#my attempt at a nighttime scenery

[forgetitbeam]

drink responsibly, kids !

[yeoslattes]

How We Live In Tokyo

Genre: Smut, TFATF: Tokyo Drift AU!

Word Count: 5.8k

Pairings: street racer Matz!Hwa x street racer fem! reader

Summary: You were notoriously once known as the drift princess, but now you're Hwa's girl. In attempt to reclaim your title, you race, pissing off Seonghwa in the process. You are also Hwa's number one cheerleader.

Warnings: Hwa comes off as a meanie during certain parts, VERY minimal description of reader, Hongjoong openly flirts with reader (his bffs girl...), Hwa confesses, possessive Hwa, weed use, high sex, manhandling, ruined orgasm, oral m+f receiving, eating it through the panties..., lots of spit, spanking, mentions of Hongjoong fucking you by Hwa, Hwa is low-key into it, choking, just rough asf, reader cries during sex, deepthroating, creampie (unprotected sex asf), use of sir like once, basically Seonghwa fucks you stupid, very minimal subspace by reader, aftercare

A/N: She's here, for my first smut after a while it's not too shabby. I'm an over thinker so I kept reviewing and editing just making sure I was happy with the final product. Also I based the reader's car off Suki's pink car in 2003 movie, just cause I thought it'd be perfect for her. I hope you guys enjoy this Hwa as much as I did!

“Ready! Set! GO!” You swing the red cloth in your hand down, the cars beside you rev noisily. Smoke from the tire burnout goes up in the air engulfing you in a heavy cloud, and just like that the first racers of tonight were off. This was one of your favorite parts of the night life in Tokyo, the races. You never intended to become a car girl, but after a couple flings here and there got you into nighttime racing, the rush and thrill it brought you was simply euphoric. The crowd cheers loudly, flip phones out recording and taking pictures, you jump in the air waving your hands cheering over the loud music and screams. 

While everyone was focused on the race at hand your eyes scanned the scenery for the only man that mattered to you, however he was nowhere in sight. You walked over to your pink Supra S2000 and leaned against the door. Your manicured hand ran over the sleek paint, you smiled at how smooth the finish felt beneath your fingertips. This car was your baby, everything was thought out and hand picked. Rolling around in a ride like your own had never made you feel anything less than superior. You were also Hwa’s girl and that in itself said enough. 

As if manifested by thought, the loud exhaust causes heads to turn, the familiar midnight blue body and chrome accents on the 350Z were unmistakable. Your eyes lingered on the white lettered decal spelling ‘MATZ’ on the upper windshield, you smirked slightly as he pulled up next to you. People cheered when Hwa stepped out, clad in a long fur coat and a muscle tee underneath, he looked delectable. Despite the layers, the large letters in black ink decorating his neck were perfectly on display. 

He greets his racing partner Hongjoong and the notorious KQ Fellaz who had also built an impeccable reputation amongst the Tokyo racing scene. He smiles at you as soon as he spots you. The glimmer of his grills catch the fluorescent lights of the crowded parking garage. “Hey.” He grumbles lowly in your ear, pulling you into him and pressing a searing kiss on your glossy lips. He looked down at you, long strands of raven black hair falling over his eyes. “You look good babe.” He compliments, long fingers coming up to tap on the hoops that were slightly hidden behind the layers of your hair. You smiled up at him, your legs suddenly feeling like jelly under his stare. 

The arm wrapped around your shoulder drops as he turns around to look at the S2000 you were resting your weight on. He walks around it, a singular hand running over the paint. He lifts the hood up, whistling when he sees the engine, “V8 is looking good babe.” He closes the hood after admiring, “Thanks, can’t wait to take her out on a spin tonight.” At your words Hwa’s face drops, his small grin being replaced by a disapproving expression. “Not tonight baby.” You huff in annoyance, see before you and Hwa had gotten together, you were one of the best female racers in this particular part of Tokyo. Every Friday night you’d come out to the streets and race against other girls and even guys. More often than not you’d end up winning. Slowly, you built up a reputation for yourself, even earning the nickname ‘drift princess’ in the process. But that was before Hwa came in and dethroned all the top racers and drifters, ending your streak as well. Eventually, you fell for him, and while he looked stoic and rude on the outside he was a sweetie behind closed doors. His charm was all you needed to become enthralled in him, needless to say you became his princess; you were Hwa’s girl as everyone knew. You ate that title up every single time, however, the singular con about being his one and only was that in fear of you getting hurt, Seonghwa didn’t let you race anymore, not against the good ones at least. He’d always let you go against the newbies, those who were still getting the hang of the Tokyo streets and drifts. 

“Seonghwa.” You begin in a begging tone, but he put his ring clad hand up, silencing you. You rolled your eyes, brooding against the Barbie pink car that was begging for a race. You watched as he went back to where Hongjoong stood conversing in a group.

A frown replaces the big smile you had just minutes ago.

You look around, hoping to find someone that’d wanna take you up on a race, even if Seonghwa had said no. Majority of the seasoned drivers were men, and due to their fragile egos, they wouldn’t dare race against you in fear that you might actually beat them and they’d never be able to live it down. 

You huff in annoyance, and pull your car door open, slipping into the pink leather seats. Your mini skirt is short enough that you feel the cool leather against the plumpness of your ass. You shake your own tan fur coat off, flipping your long hair over your shoulder to give your moistened skin some air. Rummaging through your glove compartment filled with body spray and lipgloss, you pull out a roll of bubble gum, shoving a fat piece in your mouth.

As you reapply gloss and fix your hair in the mirror a female voice catches your attention, “hey,” you looked up at your friend who was polishing the car door just a few minutes ago. She nods in the direction of Matz.

Your eyes turn into slivers when you see 2 girls chatting with Seonghwa and Hongjoong. Hongjoong has his arm around the slimmer girl, he gives her a cheshire cat like smile and you could almost see her swoon, but that’s not who you were worried about. Seonghwa, is leaning against his car, arms crossed, talking to the girl in front of him. Her dainty hand comes up to touch the fur sleeve of his coat, she says something with a big smile that causes Hwa to cackle loudly. She wears a low cut halter top and a mini skirt slightly longer than yours, but the expanse of her legs made it look like a belt around her waist. 

You rolled your eyes and stepped out of the car. You walk over to them, a big smile adorning your face, “hey baby.” You say in a sultry voice, your hand comes up Hwa’s arm and you proceed, “Who’s our new friend?” You turn to look at her, popping the pink bubble gum in your mouth. 

You can audibly hear Hwa sigh, he leans into your ear so only you can hear, “play nice.” He whispers, his cold hand resting against the warm skin of your waist. You continue to look at her, and she smirks, “who are you?” You chuckle loudly at her words, catching the attention of the people that were around. Seonghwa lets out an airy laugh looking back at Hongjoong as if to say ‘are you seeing this right now’ to which his best friend just raises his eyebrows and chuckles, fully invested in the face off. “I’m his girlfriend. Who are you?” People are starting to gather around, you step closer to her and feel Hwa’s hand squeeze your side as a warning but you ignore him. There’s a look of realization in her eyes and her face relaxes, “ahh,” she starts, “you must be the so-called drift princess.” Her faux friendly expression drops into a stoic one, “Where I’m from there are no nicknames. You’re either good or absolute shit.” She spits. 

Your heart hammers in your chest but you ignore it, “Is that a threat? Cause I bet you I can give you a run for your money.” At this point you’re so close to her you can see the glitter lining the underside of her eye. “If I lose, I’ll leave but if I win…” She pauses momentarily, looking behind you at Seonghwa, who stands arms crossed against his car, a serious look adorning his pretty features. He hated where this was going. “If I win I’ll have him.” You chuckle and so does Hwa, making the girl in front of you cock an eyebrow up in confusion at his reaction. “I hope you pick something else.” You say shifting your weight from one leg to the other. Her eyes wander to your right, “oof didn’t think the puppy had a designated owner but that’s fine. I’ll take your car.” People around you gasp and ‘ooh’ at her request. When you tongue your cheek, she feigns a pout knowing she’d hit the spot. “Deal, see you in 10.” She whips around and walks off somewhere. 

Before you can take a step, Seonghwa grabs your arm tightly, spinning you around to face him. “You must be out of your fucking mind. You bet off the car you’ve worked so fucking hard on?” He scoffs, his tongue pressed against his cheek in annoyance, “you’re fucking unbelievable.” He groans, your arms cross at your chest, resting underneath your tits, causing Seonghwa to glance down for a split second. “Oh but if it was you it’d make it okay?” You leave him with his words in his mouth, walking away before he even got the chance to get a syllable out.

Hongjoong laughs loudly at your attitude and Seonghwa’s distress, he slaps his friends back in amusement. “She’s giving you a run for your money huh Hwa?” He says. The annoyed man shoots his blonde friend a glare, resting his hands on his hips he throws his head back and huffs out a breath. 

You stand on standby waiting to get the okay from your girls as they check your car before the race. Your teeth toy with your bottom lip, nervousness settling in your tummy.

You hop in your ride and turn it on, the loud engine causing people to whistle. You might’ve been old to the game but the pre race jitters were very much real. Your opponent on the other hand seemed relaxed. Your hands are clammy on the wheel but with deep breaths you manage to bring the bile rising up your throat down. Hwa stands front row and you can see him through your windshield, he stares at you before whispering something to Yunho who was part of the KQ Fellaz. The tall and slender man draws his eyes to you as Seonghwa is in his ear, and he nods agreeing with whatever your boyfriend was saying. Hwa finishes and stands still in his spot, his jaw ticks, clearly upset at what was about to happen in just mere seconds. 

A girl in low rise jeans and a skimpy top comes between both cars, your foot presses on the gas, your car sputtering loudly. “Ready! Set! GO!” The pretty girl lifts her hand up and just like that your foot slams onto the pedal. You feel it before you see it as you zoom down the spacious garage. With your opponent already a couple feet ahead of you, your heart hammers in your chest, body running on pure adrenaline.

A tight turn is up ahead and you maneuver the wheel and use the e-brake to perfectly drift around until you’re heading straight again. She on the other hand turns slightly too wide slowing her down by a couple of seconds allowing you to zoom past her. The girl is hot on your ass but you keep her at bay not allowing her to get the upper hand. Her pretty face contorts in frustration as she struggles to make any moves. 

This is when you start to relax and it’s like you had never stopped racing. Your mind becomes so aware of your surroundings and what you were feeling. From the way your new wheels felt smooth on the cement, to the low vibrations shaking through you; this was euphoria. 

Your eyebrows knit together in pure concentration as you accelerate. You hit another tight turn, performing the drift that many struggled with effortlessly. Right before the parking garage ramp that spirals upward into the main street, you keep going straight. With a heavy foot you press on the gas, giving it all you got, you can see the exit of the garage and the final drift that everyone always anticipated. 

As you neared it you turned the wheel and pulled on the e-brake, successfully drifting up the ramp till you made it out, the hoard of people eagerly waiting. At the sight of the pink lights adorning the underside of your car, Seonghwa relaxes. You had fucking done it. Your wheels skid loudly as you slow down to park your car.

People high five you and jump on the hood celebrating what had basically been your comeback after so long. You hopped out the car, pulling your slutty skirt down and jumping on Hwa. His hands wrap around your waist, stuffing his face into your neck, taking in your sweet perfume. “Good job baby.” He whispers in that deep voice of his. “You’re so fucking hot you know that?” He says pulling you into a sloppy kiss. The girl who had raced you parks her car and hops out storming over to you. “That wasn’t fair.” She argues, “you are either good or absolute shit.” You shrug, reciting her words back to her. She grits her teeth and storms off, disappearing into the mass of people. You feign a pout and roll your eyes. As people start to head back down into the garage, Seonghwa pulls you into him. “Bad girl.” His words shoot straight to your pussy, a heat wave rolling over your body.

Another Friday rolls around, it'd been precisely one week since you won your first race back. It was already 11 PM but the streets of Tokyo were calling your name. Tonight’s outfit consisted of a low rise pleated miniskirt and a long sleeve crop top. You looked in the mirror, enjoying how your belly button jewelry dangled and glimmered under the warm lights of your room. Tonight would be special since Matz had gotten challenged by two random guys who wanted to claim territory. If there was one thing you loved to do on a night that Hwa would be racing was look pretty and sit like a good girl in the passenger seat of his car while he raced. I’ll be there soon baby, you sent Hwa a message through your pink flip phone hoping that he wouldn’t be too distracted to read it. 

Singular strands of your hair stick to your glossy lips as you cruise down the somewhat empty roads, the wind blows through your hair and you sing along quietly to the Nelly Furtado CD Hwa had gifted you. It wasn’t long before you were pulling up into the infamous garage. If there were alot of people last Friday, they had tripled today, of course just for Matz. You pulled into the spot next to Hwa, your loud exhaust catching his attention. He went from talking with Hongjoong to looking at you. He smiled at your car, still not over how perfectly the pink decked out car suited you. 

You killed the engine and hopped out, already feeling the eyes running over the expanse of your body, Hongjoong and Hwa included. If there was one thing about Hongjoong was that he did not care. Yes, Seonghwa was his best buddy, but he made sure to let Seonghwa know just how delectable you were with no shame. Still, in other ways he was respectful of his best friend’s relationship but he loved to take peeks anytime he could. 

You walk over to your boyfriend who instead of the iconic big fur coat wore baggy cargos and a muscle tee, his arms on full display. “Hey baby.” You say pressing a kiss on his cheek, you smile at the slight residue of your lips on his cheek. He grabs your chin and kisses you, you try to pull back but the suffocating grip on your face keeps you in place. His tongue toys with yours, and he sucks your bottom lip into his mouth before letting go with a final bite. When you pull away he grins at your flushed face and how he had basically eaten all the lip gloss off. 

“Hey Hongjoong.” You pant loudly, greeting the other man who had seen the entire exchange in front of him, he nods his head up at you, “drift princess has made a comeback huh?” He teases, you nod sheepishly. “Maybe next time you’ll take me up on a race?” You ask with big eyes and he smiles, “is that a challenge?” He asks, cocking his brow up, “of course.” He lets out an airy laugh, “that’s if Hwa lets you.” He teases, before walking towards his car. You turn to look back at Hwa who’s grip has tightened around you.

“Hongjoong is up first. Are you gonna be a good girl and cheer for him baby?” Seonghwa says leaning down so you could hear him. You nod and clap excitedly when you see Hongjoong’s car by the start line. As soon as Hongjoong takes off you and Seonghwa run towards the finish line, you both wait, watching through the small flip phone screens as people document the race. You cheer loudly when you notice Hongjoong’s car is ahead. In no time he is skidding up the ramp, drifting into the big pit. He had won! Hwa claps and whistles loudly at his partner's success, now it was up to him to win the second one to maintain the best of the best title. 

You follow your boyfriend down to the garage and hop into the 350Z, you inhale the fresh car scent mixed with his cologne. “Ready baby?” You ask him, he grips your hand and kisses it, “always.” 

Hongjoong peers in through the passenger side window, you buckle in as he talks to his best friend, paying no mind to what they were discussing. When he finishes he taps the edge of the window and sends you his infamous cheeky smile and a wink. 

You sit quietly, sucking in a breath and getting ready for the ride. Hwa exits the garage, and that’s when it becomes too real. One thing about Seonghwa was that he always preferred racing in the streets rather than the garage that almost every race took place in. You place a hand over your chest, feeling your blood pumping muscle thrumming beneath your fingers. At the sound of you sucking in another sharp breath Seonghwa turns his gaze to you. “Scared?” He asks, a teasing smirk playing at his lips. You purse your lips swallowing thickly, nodding. “It’s usually more dangerous Hwa, I hate when you do this.” You say, voice barely above a whisper. 

“Dangerous…” He scoffs, “That’s what I said last week when you raced and you still went against my word. So, sit, look pretty and hold on tight or get the fuck out.” He had gotten you there, regardless, there was no way to ever argue with Park Seonghwa. So, you shut your mouth up and look down at your fiddling hands.

The starter is another girl, she swings her bra up in the air and when it drops Seonghwa takes off. The g-force alone pulls you back into the seat, your hands grip the door handle and your seat, ironically your fear only grew. He hollers loudly already having a great advantage to his opponent, your body turns with the car as he drifts. You stared at his pretty features, his perfect skin and long nose bridge accompanied by his pink and plump lips. He’s too busy looking for the guy through his mirrors to really pay attention to anything else, the air blows violently into the car, your hair a mess now. The longer you sit in the car, the more you start to relax, the cool breeze in your face relieving your anxiety. 

Seonghwa startles you when he grumbles loudly, he hits the steering wheel out of frustration, his opponent had passed him. You weren’t too familiar with the path Hwa was taking, perhaps racing here once or twice before and if you remembered correctly he was more than halfway done. 

“Hold on!” He yells, he presses the red button beneath his thumb, immediately you are pulled back from the sudden acceleration. His 350Z zoomed by the guy in the other car and already you could see where the finish line was. Hwa keeps the man at bay as he rides his ass. As if it were clockwork the crowd of people disperse to make room for the infamous Park Seonghwa. He crosses the threshold into the pit of people, the car coming to a noisy stop. He cheers and you cheer along with him “I fucking love you.” He yells, you feel everything go in slow motion at that moment, the faces of the people cheering him on outside become a blur, it almost felt like you had ascended. “W-what?” you say in confusion, “I fucking love you. I am in love with you.” He says, smiling widely at you. 

Like a tradition, people hit the roof and hood of the car congratulating him on another victory. He pulls you into a heated kiss and when you pull away you lean into his ear. “I love you too Hwa.” He hops out of the car and you follow suit, instantly, he wraps his arms around you and lifts you up. Hongjoong comes up and gives him a hug, “we are still the best of the fucking best.” Hwa’s best friend yells.

The rest of the night you had spent velcroed to Seonghwa’s side, celebrating the win and watching other races go on. By 2am you were ready to call it a night. That's when Hwa pulls you aside, “wanna spend the night?” He asks tucking a loose piece of hair behind your ear. You nod eagerly, “we can get high and do whatever we want.” He whispers only for you to hear. His hands softly caress yours. “I’ll see you there baby.”

The drive to Matz’s garage is about 10 minutes, you pull in and park in the spot Seonghwa had reserved for just you.

The garage was Seonghwa’s and Hongjoong’s working space, it was scattered with car parts as well as half built vehicles. You stepped out of your pink mobile and headed up the metal stairs, your boots stomping loudly, sending vibrations up the railing. Hwa stands at the door and lets you in.

You stepped into the warm apartment, fully expecting Hongjoong to be there but instead it's quiet. “Where’s Joong?” You wonder, not wanting to impose on his personal space and most definitely not wanting him there if you and Hwa got to it. “Found some girl at the race tonight so he won’t be here.” 

As always Hwa hands you an oversized shirt, it was a routine any time you stayed at his. Given that your clothes weren’t always the most comfortable, he’d always have an oversized tee on deck just for you. You strip in front of him, already feeling his gaze burning holes into your supple skin. You sigh gleefully at the feeling of the tight clothes being off your body. 

Seonghwa sparks the blunt, his slender fingers bring it up to his lips, he takes a long drag and hands it to you. “I don’t know if I should.” You say quietly, weed just wasn’t your thing like it was Hwa’s. “It’s indica this time baby. You’re here with me, it’ll be okay.” You take the burning blunt from him and raise it up to your lips, praying that you wouldn’t end up panicking like the first time you had smoked with him. Your eyes close softly, as the smoke rushes into your lungs, affecting all your senses.

You hold the smoke in for a couple seconds, handing it back to your lover. Seonghwa takes 2 long hits, relaxing into the couch you two were on. Your eyes linger on  him, you could see his eyes drooping slightly from the marijuana. His limbs are loosely splayed on the couch, blunt hanging loosely between his pointer and thumb. Without much thought you reach for the burning plant and take another hit, that was enough to have you feeling like you were melting into the couch. You didn’t know how, but Hwa always managed to finish the blunt, this time was no different. 

“I’m pretty high right now.” He mumbles thoughtlessly slouching down even further. As the minutes tick by you feel yourself get more and more intoxicated. You felt tingles run up and down your arms and legs and your eyes felt heavy. Seonghwa drapes his fluffy blanket over the both of you when he notices your body starting to shiver. Normally, you’d be freaking out but for some reason you felt fine, just high. Seonghwa lays his head on your lap, eyes on the TV. You looked down at him watching his eyes slowly blink as he focused on Finding Nemo. The chills had subsided, if anything you felt warm now, even warmer as you felt Hwa’s hand trailing up and down your bare thigh. 

He grins slightly when he feels your thighs twitch beneath him. He kept this up for what felt like ages, never getting close to where you really needed him. Seonghwa shifts down, the full weight of his head now resting on your left thigh. You lean your head back on the couch when he runs his hand between your legs this time. He fully reaches your hot heat. “H-Hwa…” You whimper weakly, you pout when he looks up at you. He sits up, one leg pulled in and the other one resting on the floor. He presses his lips against yours, his hands gripping your face. Nothing was neat about the kiss, it was filled with hunger and lust. His spit coats your chin now and you moan when his tongue snakes between your parted lips. He roughly pulls you onto his lap, large hands going directly to rest on your ass. You pulled away momentarily, to mumble a quick “I love you Hwa.” He pauses his actions, fingers brushing messy hair strands away from your face, “I love you too baby.”

Seonghwa grunts when you grind down forcefully on him, he pushes you off him roughly, and drags you into his room. You bask in his sheets, his scent completely engulfing you, you felt like you were drowning in him. “Been wanting to fuck you ever since I saw you in that stupid slutty outfit of yours.” He tugs his shirt off you. Immediately his lips latch onto one of your buds while his free hand toys with your other tit. You felt like you were floating and in a way he felt so far yet so close. All your senses were on overdrive thanks to the weed. “Seonghwa please.” His hands wrap around the back of your knees to flip you onto your belly, 

His hand comes down heavy on your plush ass. Hwa smiles sinisterly at the red hand print forming, he feels himself twitch in his pants. He delivers a couple more slaps, “don’t think I have forgotten how you’ve been flirting with Hongjoong.” You lift your head up to protest but he shoves you back down and you let out a yelp. “What a slut. My best friend? Really?” He grits out as he works on the button of his pants.

You can’t push down the tears that sting your eyes, despite his words you knew he knew you’d only ever pick him, he just wanted to pick on you. 

You rest tummy down one cheek pressed against the mattress, “Hongjoongie keeps messing wi-.” You’re cut off by Hwa’s hand landing on your already abused skin. “Don’t try to make it his fault.” He grits, leaning his torso to get closer to your ear, “but honestly if I was him I’d wanna wreck you too.” A wave of arousal crashes over your body, shooting straight south. 

 Hwa pauses, watching the way your thighs pressed together. You sniffle, tears rolling freely now out of frustration. “Are you fucking crying?” Seonghwa says brushing your hair away from your eyes. He scoffs, “no way you’re fucking crying.” Seonghwa clicks his tongue in disapproval.

“It’s okay baby, maybe one day I’ll feel nice and let him fuck you too. Would you like that?” He teases, flipping you back onto your back. You shake your head ‘no’. He spreads your legs open and toys with your sensitive bud that your panties outline. “No? Because you’re soaked right now.” Without slipping the dampened undergarment  off he leans down and flattens his tongue against your cunt, soiling the fabric even further with his spit. 

Hwa works his long tongue languidly against you making you writhe in his grasp. “H-hwa.” You moan attempting to shove your hips against his face. The grip he has around your thighs prevents you from doing so. He presses harder against you and loosens his grip allowing you to fuck yourself on his pretty face. You groan, involuntarily grinding against him desperately trying to chase your high. “Cum baby cum.” He sounds muffled, the weed heightening every sensation has you teetering on the brink of your orgasm rather quickly. Right before you fall over the edge he pulls away; waves of what could've been your orgasm roll through you but fade as quickly as they came leaving you unsatisfied. 

You groan in annoyance, tears pooling in your eyes yet again. “You’re leaking from both ends now, that’s new.” Seonghwa says as he cups your chin, he leans down so his droopy eyes are directly in front of your teary ones. “There's no reason to cry so stop before I give a reason to.” His words make the tears actually roll down your face this time and he grins at the sight.

He flips you back onto your belly, “all fours baby.” As high as you were, you did your best to move into the requested position, your limbs moving slowly due to your impaired motor skills. He pulls your underwear down, sniffling slightly. You can feel his cockhead prodding at your sopping hole, you whine, wiggling your hips back against him. His large hands come to your shoulder blades to hold you down while he pushes in. You gasp at the intrusion, the stretch so delicious you squirm back to get more. “Stay still.” he grumbles annoyingly. He fucks into you hard, his hips being unforgiven against the globes of your ass. You keep shifting to which Seonghwa stops and places a hand on your lower back to deepen your arch. “Don’t move.” He keeps you there, his thrusts are deep and forceful, hitting that spongy spot deliciously. 

Your mouth is agape but there’s no sound coming out. “God- fuck Hwa,” you pant, tongue lolling out of your mouth and your eyes rolling back to your skull. “Feels good huh baby” He grunts, his own pants and groans filling the room, “so fucking perfect- you’re perfect.” He whines desperately, rutting into your wet pussy, you fight for air, your gasps sounding high pitched every time you sucked in air. 

He pulls out, “Get up quickly.” He commands, grabbing you by the arm, he manhandles you on your knees. “Open.” Your mouth drops open, tongue out ready for whatever he had to give you. Seonghwa wastes no time shoving his cock down your throat. You relax as much as you can, spit pooling in your mouth and falling onto your chest in thick ropes. Through the slits of your eyes you can see Seonghwa looking down on you with heavy eyes, the ‘Matz’ scribbled across his neck stretching beautifully as he throws his head back. Spit bubbles at the corners of your mouth and he grabs your head and shoves his dick desperately as far as he could until you are fighting to pull away.

You push back, resting your ass on your heels, fighting to catch your breath. “Good fucking girl baby. Cmon get up so I can’t fuck my load into you.” Hwa says, slightly out of breath. You lay back on the bed, hips hanging slightly off the bed, he slips right back in. Your spit mixed with your wetness, allows his cock to enter your walls smoothly. Your back arches off the bed as he fucks you hard, his hands push down on your waist once more to pin you down. 

The fat head of his cock hits your spot again. Everything feels far away now, but your orgasm is fast approaching. “You’re fucked d-dumb aren’t you. Does my dick do that to you?” He asks, his tongue running over his pink lips, “look at you can’t even fucking answer me.” Seonghwa’s hand wraps around your throat tightly while his free one toys with your clit, stimulating you to the brink of your orgasm, a couple more strokes and your legs begin quaking on his shoulders, “Fuck Hwa, sir too muc- I can’t.” You cry out, bringing your arms that suddenly feel so heavy to push him off but instead he wraps his hands around your wrists and presses them into the bed, “it’s o-okay baby. I’m almost there.” Sweat drops are now falling on you. He slows down his thrusts, he grinds himself into your cervix that sends him over the edge. His hips still and he groans loudly emptying his load into you. You whine, weakly trying to get him off, but still relishing in your postorgasmic bliss. He pulls out watching the way you weakly curl into yourself, his spunk seeping out of you and he can't help but smirk. 

“Don’t float away from me yet baby.” He says tapping your cheek. He slips the same shirt you had on earlier over your head and wipes you down. Slipping on some sweats and an old shirt he tucks himself in bed with you. Your eyes are now closed, the cloudiness of your high slowly dissipating but still, you felt exhausted. You slowly blinked, now realizing that Hwa had turned off the lights and you sleepily admired the way the neon purple lights from the signs outside illuminated the room.

“Hwa?” You ask into the darkness. “Hm?” He responds, not moving from his spot, “I might’ve agreed to another race next weekend.” You say sheepishly, he rolls his eyes in the dark, and you can feel the disappointment and annoyance radiating off him, “you’re in big trouble.”

[knightyoomyoui]

Mina x M/F Reader - "Need You Now"

One of my shortest one-shots in the book. Sorry if this is unlike most of my longer fics, unfortunately I have to say that due to how busy I am in my life right now, I can still insert wriing stories in my free time, but not as long as I use to do anymore. Probably my one-shots from now on will be like less than 3 or 5k word count. This fic is inspired from one of my favorite songs of all time, "Need You Now" by Lady Antebellum. The structure of this story is in a music video-type narrative, so while reading this you can just imagine this as an alternative MV with the song in the background. I may have done the ending a little bit longer for the final chorus but I needed to add atleast more dialogue so yeah, just skip any unneccesary parts in your mind to fit it in the song haha. Lastly, I don't accept any commissions for now but I'm very open to accept any donations for you kind readers as another way of appreciation for my works. I can use this for my upcoming on-the-job training so please if you can spare some, I would be highly grateful. ko-fi.com/knightyoomyoui Enjoy reading!

It is nighttime of a random day in the 1700s in Japan, and Myoui Mina is currently living alone in her house. She is standing in front of the window as she views the townscape of Kobe with all the illuminated lights coming from the houses and posts. While her eyes are fixed on the scenery, her mind is busy projecting an image of a certain person to cope with the sadness she’s feeling.

Picture perfect memories with you is what she has been replaying on her mind again and again, in which she won’t stop or get tired at all, just like she can do with just being around you. All she feels is joy and tranquility within your presence, and although she needed it right now, it makes her disappointingly wonder why this day is just going to end up unlike what she had with you before.

Her almost-a-month of longing for you has already reached its breaking point, not for the idea of only meeting you in her dreams but to the annoying fact that you had to disappear without leaving any trace for her to follow or indication to be relieved that you’re doing well on wherever you may be at right now.

She reached for the telegraph in her table and tries to contact you until she realizes that she never had your contact with him and it will rather end up being pointless, just like as her search around the town that she has done few days ago, inquiring for your whereabouts.

Slamming the telegraph back into its place, Mina groaned and sighed heavily with a frown on her face. She sat on the bed, her energy deteriorating as the likelihood of receiving a response or an update about you increased. It’s already a wasted 49th attempt at reaching back to you, and she wondered how long it would take to be ignored like this.

Mina then started to question you by herself: did you ever become happy with her and do you even still think about her even when you're not around to spend time together with her? She knows that you already knew that she hates feeling abandoned anymore, and now that you act like you are unaware of it, Mina is now wondering twice if you even listened or understood why she said that and especially

when she told you how much you mean for her.

If she'll be the one to ask the same, she admits that she is and she does it always until now. She won’t be this determinated to find and learn any news about what you may be doing if you’re just somebody that she’s close with. No, for Mina… you turned out to be the only person that holds special purpose in her life.

And not having you anymore will make Mina lose interest or simply, a reason to continue living again. Twice is enough if the pain will just be doubled, she believes.

Mina has checked the time and realizes it's been already quarter after 1 AM that she remained awake. It made her broke down in tears, knowing that this isn't like her who waits for this long and the fear to be alone again is eating her up inside more in which you once helped her to fight it since the first time she met you.

Looking at the telegraph again, she said to herself that she won't call anymore, thinking that she might probably be disturbing you or becoming strange with her frantic efforts of searching for you, but Mina has already lost control, and she doesn't care anymore if she has become this desperate.

She just needs you tonight, and now that you’re gone after showing her how it feels to have someone by her side after living most of her life without a family, relative, or even friends, she doesn't know how she can manage without having you again in her life.

Meanwhile, not so far away from your hometown and from Mina’s sanctuary, you were cleaning your weapons until it got interrupted when your concentration vanished again just by the memory of Mina affecting your heart and mind.

You looked out the window, reflecting the dark sky and atmosphere outside. A sudden concern about how she may be doing had obliged your body to react. Letting out a huge exhale, you stood up and proceeded to your brewery to grab another bottle of whiskey.

Pouring one into the glass and taking it as medicine for missing Mina a lot again alleviates the loneliness from the state you are in. You kept your composure; you know the time is running out, and you just had to remain still and focus on the plan.

The more you keep remembering Mina, the more you have begun to appreciate every aspect of her, even more than you have ever crossed your mind. But then you have seemed to notice that whenever you have an episode of this, a strange feeling is lingering inside your heart.

Which led you to speculate if maybe you are now enjoying the existence of Mina like, way more or far away from just being a friend or a companion that you met when you were alone strolling through the forest. The thoughts of her being actually deadly gorgeous in a way that is obviously not a normal compliment anymore and her admiring personality have captured your attention further to how she really is as a mesmerizing woman.

You looked at the door shut, missing those moments where Mina would just freely sweep open through it and greet you with her gummy smile and her adorable cheeks that puff whenever she’s happy. If only she can visit you again, it will not be the same exchange that you’ll definitely do for her this time.

You owe her one that is more than that, that’s why. But then you took note that you'd save it for later as the perfect time is about to arrive soon nonetheless.

You checked the time and it's been quarter to 1 AM already. You also became aware that you’re starting to get drunk now. The alcohol increased the emotions you’ve been caging up inside, causing you to lose control that results to your tears containing the minimum of what you’re entirely feeling right now that’s making you obvious that you simply want to see Mina again.

You swore that you wouldn't call for her to keep your focus on the plan but at your drunken state, you have gotten lost out of your control, betraying your very own words.

You kept on mentioning Mina's name as you promised to yourself that you’ll come find and save her because if you don’t, you aren’t sure at all on what you can do without her.

And at the same time as when Mina declares to herself that she needs you, it wasn’t coincidental that you share the same sentiment.

Timeskip to 4AM early in the morning, Mina was peacefully sleeping on her bed when her enhanced senses had her alerted back to conscience. She rose from the bed and noticed some flashing lights and growing silhouettes coming from outside the window. It should’ve been dark and quiet during this time since it was still too early.

Checking out to gain a better glimpse of what source its coming from, she observed that the townspeople are marching into her house all bringing their tall torches and knives with them.

“Is there a ceremony being performed today? W-why are they making their way through here?” Mina then watched them seperate, in a form that they’re surrounding her house.

“D-do they know already?” Getting the hint that they all are now aware of her true nature, based on the knives and torches they brough with them, she became scared that this will be the time that she'll die.

They all began to yell and some went on to bump the front door repeatedly. Mina rushes to close the door of her bedroom. Hearing the door collapse from outside, footsteps and chatters came near towards her hiding place.

Mina started to block the door with her body as the townspeople banged through her door again, their intentions come full obvious that they came here with one objective, and that is to eliminate the impostor that has been living with them all along.

“Ah! P-please, stop!” she yelps and cries for mercy as she remains to secure all the doors for her safety while they barge into her place, she wishes for you to come for the last time

until she heard series of growls, curses, and screams from outside.

She tried to take a peek through the little gap that she made by opening the door a little. “YN!!!!!!!” Mina became horrified to witness you getting teamed up by your fellow townspeople with some dead people lying around as they bathe in their own blood along with some scattered through the walls because of what you did.

With your bloody huge knife, she realized that you came all around here to rescue Mina only to get outnumbered because of the ampunt of townspeople gathered to hunt and kill her kind.

“MINA!!! RUNNNN!!!!!” She heard you yell for her name while being battered and dominated by your monstrous townsmen. They all looked around to find her, and they spotted Mina peeking through the door.

She closed it again and barricaded it with her body. Their more aggressive bumps and your wails with your brutally awful state had Mina whimpering and crying poorly.

The pity she feels for you however loaded her infuriation. Every second her eyes blink, her pupils flicker into a purplish color. As she gritted her teeth, her hands clawed with some bio-kinetic energy forming like a ball through her grasp.

Her hair floats at the intense air caused by her transformation, and suddenly her witch powers awakened. She points her hands at the door and blast through it, sending all the townspeople back. The rest looked at her horrifyingly as Mina steps out of the shadows with her figure beaming in all purplish magic.

“KILL THE WITCH!!!” The all roared but Mina used her magic to dismantle every townspeople who go against her and YN, all in brutal fashion.

After she splits a woman in half in mid air with her innards and blood splattered across the room and into her face, she then got caught by the last three men by firing bullets at her, making her groan in pain.

They were about to do a double tap when you quickly stood back up despite being wrapped around in ropes. You attacked them by tackling and headbutting them away from Mina before you leave them for her to finish them all by exploding their brains out.

As she slowly calmed down and degenerates her magic, she breathe heavily and saw you staring at her in awe, speechless at her true identity as a witch. You know who she really is, but this is the first time you’ve seen her in her full potential.

Mina got afraid of how you will but in her surprise, you ran through her and reconciled with her in an embrace.

“A-aren’t you scared of me?”

“Of who you really are? I have accepted you since the beginning, I’m rather scared of what they might do to you.”

She immediately broke down in tears around your arms. “W-where have you’ve been all time? I thought you’ll leave me forever.”

“I’m sorry, Mina. I know, it’s all my fault that I didn’t inform you at all, but its all according to my plan and it has to be done.”

“So you knew about this?”

“I did. I overheard my tutors that one of them discovered your background of being a Myoui, a well-known family came from a coven of witches that they’ve… k-killed years ago. And since they knew me being close to you, I hide and there, I began making my plan to rescue you with the help of an informant.” You revealed the reason to your disappearance.

“Y-you did that f-for me? B-but you hurt yourself came all the way back here because of me… and you killed your-”

“Ofcourse and I don’t care about it, I rather can’t consume the guilt more of having you harmed than killing others who dares to lay their abusive hands at you. Y-you’re… you’re the only person I care… and love the most than anyone, Mina. You’re the only one I have left as much as you have me only in your life. I came here not just because I have to save you. I need you now, Mina. I can’t wait any longer again to see you.”

Mina cried again and buried her head deeper in your chest. “I need you now too, YN. And always. I’ve waited for you to come back.”

“And I’m here now, Mina. I’m never going away anymore. Whoever come across against us, we’ll face them together.”

You kissed her on the lips after breaking your hug with her. She was shocked at your action but it didn’t took her more time to catch up with your movement. As you and Mina stare at each other, both then smiled at this new found relationship that grew within your bond.

You helped Mina stand up and covered all her gunshot wounds, not minding your own evidence of violence through your beaten body. “I think we should go now, others will start coming here and they won’t like what they’re gonna see.”

You offered her hand at her and she looked at it before she returned her gaze at your face. “Should we run away from here?”

“I’ll follow you wherever we go.” Mina accepted, holding your hand with firm grip, enough to consider that she’ll forever stay by your side.

You nodded at her. Pulling her along with you, both left her house and all the deceased fellow townspeople inside as you escape the grotesque scene with Mina.

[ruiniel]

Remember

Fandom: Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no yaiba

Pairing: Kokushibō x fem!Reader

Count: 1.3k

Rating: 🔞

Tags & Warnings: Multichapter, Darkfic, Angst, Ambiguity, Past Attempted Rape/Non-Con, Reincarnation, Toxic relationship, Codependency, Blood kink, Flashbacks, Kokushibō's wife, her name is Hisami, References to childbirth but nothing graphic, POV Second Person, Tsugikuni Michikatsu POV, Emotional Sex, Mild Smut, is it gratuitous yes and no, Human!Kokushibō, Kokushibō | Tsugikuni Michikatsu-centric, Sengoku Period (1467-1590), if there's anything Upper Moon One fears it's his memories

On AO3

Part I - Part III - Part IV - Part V - Part VI - Part VII - Part VIII - Part IX

II.

The world used to be bloodier. As he ponders this, another thought emerges: it also used to be more beautiful. But… he’s ceased caring about such things, long ago.

This is a refuge as any other since he’s roamed this world: this too-bright place with its garish nighttime illuminations. Now it bears a different name, but much has changed in four centuries, after all.

And yet… as he kneels on the roof, the moat around what was once Fukashi Castle is still here, the surrounding verdant scenery and mountains are yet present. The still waters mouthing at the structure are a black void, offering an upside-down image of the building with its crow-like wings and the bright red bridge leading up to it—the image of an alternate dimension.

He tries to ease into the world beyond, and fails. His thoughts ripple and churn in an endless mill.

Why now?

Of all the times and all moments past, why did it have to be now that he remembered? A half-forgotten memory made flesh, one that forced a shameful retreat with nothing but words and questions and an achingly familiar face.

A shift. Upper Rank One opens his eyes.

“Why are you here?”

The newcomer nonchalantly sits on the roof close to him, crossing his legs. “Greetings, Kokushibo-dono, I hope you’re having a peaceful night?”

Kokushibo says nothing. He’s not once humored any of the others that man has brought into the fold, nor does he intend to begin. Things are fine as they stand.

“I’ll take that as a ‘yes’!” Doma chimes, his long, pointed nails twirling a lock of silver hair. “I must say, you certainly know how to choose your dwelling places, Kokushibo-dono, the scenery is marvelous!” the upbeat tone continues.

“Doma.”

Upper Rank Two looks his way with his bright, rainbow eyes, snapping his fingers. “Oh yes, to the point, right. Well, I wanted to report a strange, or, no!—a rather intriguing event! Quite recent.”

Kokushibo rises to his feet. He gazes up at the sky, gripping the handle of his sheathed blade.

“A very interesting person stumbled into my temple, you see,” Doma continues, speaking with that everlasting smile plastered on his face, a bit faster now for fear of losing his audience. “With a very interesting story besides! A pretty young lady, if I may say so. She’d heard of me and how so many people trust me with their woes and troubles, she said, which was rather sweet of her. She did tell me right off that she most certainly did not believe in ‘this sort of thing’, not until recently at least, but she had the most peculiar story and did not know where to go!”

“Why should this interest me?”

“Because—and here lies the most curious part—she thought she was being haunted! Either that, or she was going insane. And as you know, I do not believe ghosts exist.”

Because you are empty of feeling or memory.

“... but she was so distraught, and I’d fed recently, thus I decided to oblige her instead of eating her.”

A curious tremor runs up his spine. “I have no time for this.”

“Wait, wait! Now comes the intrigue: it did not take much to compel her to speak in the greatest of detail, after all human minds are so feeble. She described this… ‘ghost’ to me. She said…” He ponders, as though trying to remember. “She said it was a man, who looked like a samurai from ages past. He had long, dark hair, and not one but three pairs of burning eyes! She said he disappeared, and might not return, but did not know what to do in case he did. Isn’t that interesting, Kokushibo-dono? Where ever would a mortal get such a notion?”

“Say what you mean.”

“Far from me to meddle in my upper's business and I don't know if it’s someone who escaped, or why. But... I do know we are not to reveal ourselves to mortals and… well, I believe she will return to the temple, I made an exquisite impression, and promised to do some research.” Doma’s shining gaze melts to a dark, bloody crimson. “Would you like me to... handle this situation for you, Kokushibo-dono?”

His teeth are grinding. He’s never been so inept as to not gauge an enemy’s ways, and beneath those fake airs Upper Rank Two hides a ruthlessness and ambition that might have been admirable, were it not so honorless. “What I would like, Doma... is for you to get out of my sight.”

Doma appears stricken for a breath, but the smile returns like a beacon, and his eyes regain their multicolored luster. “Apologies if I’ve offended you, I only thought you’d like to be made aware of—”

“... leave.”

The demon claps his hands together and stands with an elegant flourish. “As you wish. Until next time.”

After Doma makes himself scarce, he kneels again. His gaze sweeps over the inky moat, the silent mountains in the far distance. He closes his eyes.

There is no thought to waste on this. None of it matters, none of it should. If anyone is foolish enough to step into Doma's territory... then that is their fate.

None of it matters.

He'd not expected it to be this way. The union of clans through marriage and strengthening of social ties he always saw as an upcoming duty to fulfill, but in him brims a new kind of contentment when you lean against his shoulder, the simple intimacy of your body warmth at his side: the comfort of having someone to hold.

The marriage ceremony has concluded days before, and he feels… relief. The sake you shared was on your lips that night, and his cheeks flush as he recalls what followed.

“I like the musicality of it.”

Michikatsu looks at you, an eyebrow raised, running slender fingers over the flute in his hand. He nuzzles your neck, smiling. “More than the koto?”

You twirl a dark lock of his hair between your fingers. “Is that strange to you?”

You’ve known each other since childhood. You’d always been a part of his life, and with fondness he remembers the many escapades through the hills, the passion in your eyes as you raced after him to the despair of your minders, your bruised knees when you fell after a dare.

“I thought you knew by now, that nothing about you is strange to me, Hisami.”

You hum, shifting your weight so he has no choice but to lie down on the futon, his arms around your waist. This closeness feels complete, irreplaceable. He knows this, perhaps he always did.

“So, will you?” you murmur, a teasing finger tracing his lips. “Will you teach me how to play?”

His body tenses at the slight touch, sweet fever melting his senses. Michikatsu buries his face against your neck, breathing in your scent. “Will you have the patience for it?” He knows you, he knows every expression on your face and what it means, the exact places your skin is marked by barely discernible scars from your covert adventures years past.

Your voice bears the slightest reproach, your fingers sifting through his hair, along his scalp, and shudder after shudder races through his nerves. “Do you think so little of me, my husband?”

Your words, though soft, cut him like a blade. It is the first time you refer to him as such, and the sudden, renewed urge to honor and protect and have you overwhelms him. It feels like waking from a shallow dream, the pale imitation of a former existence. The emptiness, the stubborn feeling of inadequacy gripping his mind like pinchers, the restlessness of not knowing a clear path or choosing a purpose are all forgotten, drowned in the murmur of your voice and the urgent beats of your heart against his chest. He tastes the word on your lips, relishing the soft gasps it yields.

“Well?” you ask, eyes closing as he grazes your lower lip with his teeth.

“How about… you let me show you what I think…” he says, a trembling hand grasping your hip.

The sheen of your smile agrees, and he will not—cannot—begrudge you this defeat.

Author note

The name 'Hisami' depending on how it's written can mean 久藤珠 - 'long lasting wisteria gem' or 久藤美 - 'long lasting wisteria beauty'.

Fukashi Castle was the original name of Matsumoto Castle, whose origins go back to the Sengoku period when the Tsugikuni brothers would have lived.

Part III

[humanitys-strongest-bamf]

domestic modern!au levi hc's based on my life (bc i'm stressed)

04/03/2023:

➼ woke you up with coffee that he brews himself because he has high standards for how its brewed and your instant coffee just doesn't do it

➼ also wakes you up with a high-fiber low (ish) sugar breakfast because he knows that you'll just grab a donut and call it a day and then be grumpy during your sugar crash in an hour or two

➼ gives you a prolonged good-bye kiss outside your car because he knows you're going to have a full and long day

➼ is a tad annoyed when he sees on your socials that you bought a extra sweet latte from a cheap coffee shop later on in the day (why would you lower your standards so much???)—also concerned about your caffeine crash when you get home

➼ when he sees your text saying that you'll be home late, he knew that your day was particularly stressful. he surprises you with take-home from your favorite restaurant. while he is not a particular fan of the restaurant (too fatty, too sugary, too expensive), he knew it would make your day a bit better, so he was fine with it

➼ when you sit down at your desk and begin looking at your to-do list, levi could see the panic enter your eyes. he puts the planner away and takes you outside on a late-night drive, knowing that the nighttime scenery helps you relax

➼ you both get into bed a tad bit earlier than usual so that you two spend some dedicated time with each other before you attempt to sleep = extra snuggles

➼ as usual, it takes much longer for levi to fall asleep than you, but seeing you relax and fall into the comforting state of sleep after seeing you stressed all day eventually lulls him into sleep as well

[redrawthecolorlessworld]

Meow

just like how it is with colorless, primeval, arta, and destonio, convergence is also not immune to getting projected on by me

in this case......he is a Cat Lover™. much like i am :3

———

This world is ugly.

Stupid.

Awful.

Shitty.

A pain to live in.

The people here are a bunch of stupid lowly idiots—they're all the exact same to me.

That's why...I've made it my goal to destroy this world once and for all.

Because there is nothing good about living in this wretched planet.

So my only choice is to—

"Meow."

...Huh?

The sound of...some creature, managed to snap me out of my internal breakdown. I started taking in the scenery around me; a dark alleyway. It's not nighttime right now, but this part of the city is pretty secluded from any other part of it, so no wonder it lacks any sort of light. That's when I realized that I was basically hugging myself as I stood with my back against the wall behind me.

I then quickly looked down, before seeing a white furred cat sitting infront of me. The cat looked up to me, before letting out another soft meow. My heart...it felt like melting from the sheer cuteness of it. I glanced around my surroundings once again, making sure no one else was in sight, before finally glancing back at the cat.

"...Meow."

"Mreow!"

Hearing the cat respond to me, I let myself smile. I crouched down so that I'm practically on the cat's level. "Meow." I said again (embarrassingly enough), and the cat responds with its own meow. Oh, Amazing Mighty...this is just too cute for me to handle.

I reached out my hand to pet the cat on the head, and it seems to be enjoying it a lot. "Mrow!!!" Hearing that, I laughed. "Meow." I replied, petting the cat some more. Seeing its tail move around a lot like that...

I feel like I might explode and die.

"Meow."

"Mreoowww."

"Meow?"

"Meeooww!!!!"

"Heh. Meow!"

"What the hell."

I immediately froze after hearing a third person (why am I saying "third person"??) speak. I quickly looked up, my eyes widening as I saw a white haired woman looked down at me with clear confusion in her eyes. "...Yo. What the hell are you doing here alone??" She asked, before glancing towards the cat I was petting earlier. "...With that cat?" She then added.

I recognize her—she's the infamous Destr0yer; the former Goddess of Destruction who got "fired" from her job for trying to make an attempt to destroy the world herself. How disappointing to know a failure like her is still alive and roaming around the streets of Modelista like this.

"...Get the fuck out of here and mind your own goddamn business."

"Okay, okay, fine! Geez—have some chill."

"Yeah. Run along now. Leave me and Clara alone."

"You- you named the cat???"

"Just get out!"

[empatheticnymph]

I’ll be 32 in a few days. I sip my morning coffee as my son gets dressed for the school day. It’s Friday. My last Friday as a 31yr old. I don’t feel like I’m in my 30’s. I still feel 17; wild mouthed, fierce but also, anxiety. They say you’re only as old as you feel, each day is a new age then! My crows feet are setting in more and more, even though I make feeble attempts with my nighttime skin-routine to rid them. You don’t make new friends as easy as you used to, but now you know that’s a good thing. Not everyone should have access to your heart, especially not when it’s in the shape it is…after all these years. We’re still trying to shape good relationships with those that have made it to my new book.

It’s my fresh book with new introductions, different antagonists, and this time hero’s win. We’re aiming for thriving, not just a survivors memoir.

Oh no, there’s transformation, major character development , new scenery and ideas.There’s a change in the main character too, but instead of sad and damage she’s rejuvenated, smarter, wiser, and hasn’t the time for stagnant waters.

The beginning sets off right where the last ended, so full of chaos. As you read on, you’ll find the path of life to be…just like yours. This book is relatable to so many in the mental health community. Thats why it’s so important I make it till the end. Awareness is key when you’re an advocate. You’ll read about that in this book.

•

•

Stay tuned.

*sips coffee and laughs*

[i-am-the-doctor]

Red Tides a' Rollin CHAPTER 2 //TW: Graverobbing, violence, animal attacks, mention of suicide, funeral

CHAPTER 2

“Friends and Family, We are gathered here today to celebrate the life of Olivia Moira Johanneson, who was born on September 30th, 2023, and tragically passed away on January 1st, 2042, in the Woodfork Spiker Massacre. May we forever remember her smile and her willingness to help others, May we lift her name up to the heavens, and may we keep her memory in our hearts, lest she be forgotten. Let us pray..”

As Fredrick and the rest of the congregation of friends and survivors and family bowed their heads, he pondered his plan that he and Jonathan agreed upon that very night. When he first entered the funeral home’s gates, he surveyed his surroundings, as it would be imperative to remember where everything was for tonight. The only noise in the solemn graveyard now was the director reciting a prayer for Olivia’s soul, but such prayers aren’t needed, Fredrick thought to himself. After all, she will be back, better than ever, practically immortal to do whatever she pleased, to live the adulthood that was stolen from her at 18, to have a spouse or kids if she wanted. They rose their heads afterwards, clean-bandaged survivors and friends came up to read their eulogies and kind words about their friend, and after that, a final prayer was said for her, and her casket was lowered into a shallow grave and covered with gravel.

After the funeral had ended, the two men briskly walked back to Fredrick’s truck, a maroon 1998 Chevy Blazer, and as Fredrick approached the driver’s door, he felt a wave of drowsiness overcome him from his lack of sleep. He attempted to shake himself awake, but it was futile. Jonathan then tapped him on his shoulder, jolting him awake.

“Fredrick, are you alright? Maybe you should let me drive!” “No no, Jonathan, I’m perfectly fi-” Fredrick mumbled before getting cut off by jonathan, whose eyes were wide with worry. “I Insist! You look like you’re about to fall over!”

“...Agh, Fine. Heres the keys.” He muttered, handing him the keys to the truck before walking over to the passenger’s side and opening the door to hop in, to which Jonathan followed suit. 

“So, now we go to my place to get that ice-chest and the shovels?” Jonathan asked, making sure he was correct, to which Fredrick nodded, struggling to keep his eyes open.

“Yeah, thats right. You still have that ice-chest in your garage, huh?”

“I should, Last time we ever used it was when we had that barbeque back in July…” Jonathan replied as he started the engine to the truck and began backing out of the parking lot and onto the road. No more words were said, as Fredrick leaned onto the door, looking out the window and into the vastly varying scenery, between graffiti-abundant ghost towns, abandoned farmlands void of animals and crops, and woods and swamps abuzz with rabbits hopping along ditches, and foxes leaping across logs. As he gazed upon the everchanging environment moving by, he allowed himself to close his eyes and relax as his breathing slowed. After all, he was exhausted, both physically and emotionally, maybe a little nap would help him…

…

When we finally awoke from his dreamless sleep, he found himself in the dark interior of his truck, parked in front of a house , with dark blue and white paint, flowerbeds on either side of the door, and a statue of the Virgin Mary in the front yard. He then sat up in his seat, rubbing the sleep from his eyes. He looked out the window once again to find that it was nighttime now. Where was Jonathan, he asked himself, but it was quickly answered by Jonathan opening the driver’s door, visibly sweating, and out of breath.

“H-Hey, Fredrick! You’ve been out for quite awhile! I finally found my shovels and ice-chest! I… Oh god.. I thought i would never find it- I need to clean my garage out!” he huffed, leaning on top of the seat.

“Well why didn’t you wake me up? I would’ve helped you!” 

“You hadn’t slept a wink since last night! You would’ve probably passed out while standing and fall into some of the bullcrap I have stashed in there and lose an eye!” 

“Yeah, thats probably true!” He chuckled, stretching his back. “So, wheres the chest and shovels now?” “I went ahead and put them in the trunk while you were asleep!” “Well good! Now, we just need to pick up some ice from the gas station and head on back to the gas station! ….What was that gas station called again?”

“Elbertsons.” Jonathan pipped as he hopped back into the truck and started the engine once again, setting back out on the roads. “Hopefully they’re still open!” “I hope so too! Ugh, I hate time changes..”

“Me too..”

After 10 minutes of driving along, they finally arrived at the Elbertson’s Gas station, a homely little mom-and-pop buisness in the middle of an old community, with old-fashion gas pumps, and a big “ICE-2-GO” Ice machine to the front-left of the lot. Jonathan parked the truck in front of the building, and unbuckled his seatbelt.

“Alright, I’ll be back, i’m going to go ask if they have change for a dollar. Need anything?” “No, not at the moment.”

Jonathan nodded, and hopped out, and made his way towards the establishment. When he made it, he attempted to open the door, but it only rattled, as the door was locked. He then checked his wallet to see if he had any change, and he felt his chest tighten when he realized that he had no change, and had to ask Fredrick. What kind of moron doesn’t have change nowdays, he panicked to himself. ‘Now I’ll look like an idiot in front of my best friend!’. He then trudged back to the truck, red in the face, and opened the door once again.

“Hey.. Fredrick? They’re closed, and i just checked, and i…. Uh..” “Don’t have any change?” Fredrick asked, confused on why he was so visibly embarassed about something as trivial as a lack of change.

“....Yeah.” “Hey, it happens. I got some here in the center console.” He chuckled as he opened up the center console and gave him four shiny quarters and an oxidised penny. “Here. let me know if you need more.” “Thank you Fredrick. I’ll be back!” He said with a slight grin as he closed the door once again, grabbing the ice chest and swiftly sprinting to the ice machine, which was lit with a singular streetlamp hanging above jonathan’s head. He then put the coins into the slot, and within minutes, the ice poured into the ice chest, filling it up halfway. He then picked it up, the weight of it almost popping Jonathan’s shoulders out of place, but instead of crying out in pain like he oh so wanted to, he sucked it up, and slowly made his way back to the truck. Afterwards, he popped the trunk open, and pushed it in, huffing and puffing, clutching his chest to feel his heartbeat. He opened the door to the truck once more, his face as red as a can of strawberry soda.

“I… I got the ice!” he wheezed.

“Jonathan, Are you alright?!” “I… I’m okay, i think! I… I think you should probably drive now, I can barely move my arms, I-I’m sorry, Fredrick!”

“Hey, don’t apoligize, you’re doing a lot- take a rest!” Fredrick said as he hopped out of the passenger’s seat, allowing Jonathan to take his place as he jumped into the driver’s seat, starting the truck once again, and finally driving back to the graveyard, passing by the same landmarks that he fell asleep watching.

…

When they finally reached the graveyard, Fredrick found that the area was silent. Eerily silent, with the only light being the full moon above and the headlights from Fredrick’s truck-- which were quickly turned off after they had parked as to not bring attention to themselves.

“Are you ready, Jonathan?” Fredrick asked, getting out of the truck to fetch the Ice-chest and shovels.

“Yeah, i am. but.. What what if people notice the gravel got moved around or something? I don’t think graverobbing carries a light sentence, Fredrick!” “Relax, Jonathan. I don’t think they’ll notice- theres hundreds of graves here! And besides, sometimes spikers dig up the gravel sometimes and eat people- thats why Chris Morales had to be creamated! they’ll just think that a spiker tried to get in… Don’t worry, no one will notice a thing..”

Jonathan nodded, wanting to believe what Fredrick was saying.

“Here, you take the shovels, they’re lighter.”, Fredrick said as he handed Jonathan the shovels while he lugged the Ice-chest out of the trunk. They then slowly entered through the gates of the graveyard, silent and cold as death itself, in fact, it felt like the spdead were scowling at them as they made the walk, judging them from beyond the grave. Fredrick however, shook off the feeling. He was already so close, and he wasn’t about to let the feeling of paranoia overtake him. After a minute or so of passing the quiet mausoleums and shallow graves from years and decades before, they finally made it to Olivia’s gravesite once again. Jonathan looked up at Fredrick as he handed him a shovel, and finally, he asked in a hushed voice:

“Fredrick, I know I have asked this countless times, and forgive me, but are you sure you want to do this? After we start digging, theres no going back.”

Fredrick Nodded.

“Of course. We’re already so close.. But when we get her, we’re not going to immediately start working on her… No, we need a subject, maybe two, because if I mess something up and i can’t get her back, I won’t forgive myself.” He explained. They then prepared their shovels to dig.

“On a count of three… one… two.. Three.” They then began digging, with Fredrick doing most of the heavy lifting while Jonathan routinely checked to see if there were any strangers or spikers about. 15 minutes would go by, and when all was said and done, the grave would be uncovered, revealing a polished wood casket with Olivia’s initials engraved into the upper lid. Fredrick held his breath, preparing himself for what he was about to see, while Jonathan looked away. Fredrick noticed.

“Jonathan, are you alright?”

“I-Its just that… well, she’s your daughter, and uh.. I thought you might like some privacy.” he mumbled nervously. Fredrick shook his head. “Jonathan, You were like an uncle to her, this is your moment too!” he whispered, briskly looking around to make sure no one overheard them. Jonathan said not a word, but nodded, taking a glance at the casket. This would mark the very moment that Fredrick’s project would start. A project that would test his hypothesis of whether the dead can be brought back.

“Jonathan… I’m going to open up the casket.. And when I open up the casket, we’re going to gently pick her up and put her in the ice-chest, and rebury the casket, understand?” Fredrick instructed as he crouched to grab a hold of the heavy lid.

“Got it.” “Good.. now on a count of three… One.. Two..”

And on the count of three, he opened the lid, closing his eyes tightly. After a minute or so, he finally opened his eyes once more, and within the casket was none other than Olivia, cold and lifeless, yet she looked like she was sleeping, with her arms draped over her stomach, cane in both hands, still wearing her new-years outfit , except for her blouse, which was replaced with a black blouse. As Fredrick looked on, he found every emotion one could experience rushing towards him like a freight truck. Rage, sorrow, guilt, disgust with what he was doing filled his thoughts as he clenched his jaw together. He wanted to scream, He wanted to cry. He wanted to dig his own grave beside her and plunge his shovel through his heart and never feel anything ever again, but he knew he couldn’t do that. Not to Olivia, and not to Jonathan. He looked up at Jonathan, and even though shadows were cast over his eyes and glasses as he stood above the crouched Fredrick, you could tell that he too was processing the sorrowful sight. Fredrick then picked Olivia up gently, as if he were handling a delicate flower with white gloves, cradling her in his arms.

“....I’ve got her, Jonathan…” He whispered through tear-choked vocal chords. Jonathan nodded, not saying anything, and opened the lid to the frigid ice-chest, where Olivia would rest until they got to the lab in Baton Rouge. Afterwards, they closed the lid to the casket, and reburied it, making sure not to leave a single piece of gravel out of place. Now, all they have to do is put the ice-chest in the back seat, and make way to Baton Rouge. 

“Alright, next stop, Baton Rouge.” Fredrick grunted as he picked up the ice-chest, using his chest and stomach to carry it as Jonathan carried the shovels back to Fredrick’s truck. Afterwards, they popped the trunk and set the shovels and the chest containing Olivia in the back seat, and they both got back in the truck, started the engine, and headed on the road towards Baton Rouge. 30 minutes would pass where they did not say a word to each other, and instead gave each other quick glances, and listened to the radio. It was only after a commercial for Aximin, a meal-replacement pill turned highly addictive drug, came on the radio, that Jonathan spoke up.

“Hey, Frank Kemper was the guy that made Aximin, right? Whatever happened to him?” “Well, they say that he was getting reports that when you bit into the pill, it released a sort of smoke or steam that made you… well, h1gh, and he didn’t believe it until he tried it for himself, and got addicted. According to some people who knew him, he went insane and ran into the woods!” Fredrick huffed, keeping his eyes on the road to make sure no spikers or robbers would grab them. “Its a dang shame, too! He was a good guy, we worked with him! “Oh yeah, thats right! He wasn’t really all that involved in Prometheus though, was he?” “No, not really. He knew more about medicine and brains than cybernetics anyway.” Fredrick shrugged. A couple of minutes later, Fredrick saw a sign riddled with bull3t holes that read:

Baton Rouge      2

“Hey, We’re almost there!” Fredrick beamed as he looked over at Jonathan, to which he also smiled.

“Good! I hope the power is still on there!” “It should, it’s powered by Korsa! No power bills here, Gomez made sure of that!”

Two miles later, they arrived in what was once Baton Rouge. Icicles hanged from abandoned houses and buildings, rubble scattered every which way, the city was barely recognizable. Now all it was was a place for rebellious teenagers to group up and chew Aximin, raiders to rob people or for wild animals to hunt for prey.

“Are you sure the Lab is still here?” Jonathan whispered as he looked around the place, to which Fredrick nodded.

“Yes, of course it is! It has to be! See? There it is!” he announced as he pointed to a grey building with a flat roof, high windows, and scuffed paint, most likely from rocks hitting it or shrapnel. Jonathan raised his eyebrows, surprised that the building was even standing after all these years.

“Wow, you were right! I’m sorry I ever doubted you, Fredrick!”

As they pulled into the parking lot and got out, Fredrick scanned the locked building, noticing a broken window that was just out of his reach, and even if he could get up to that window, he wouldn’t be able to fit, as the window was a bit too small around for man to squeeze through.

“....Hey Jonathan!” “Hm?”

“You think I could give you a boost and you could go through that window and unlock the door?” “Hell, Probably! Looks big enough!” Jonathan pipped as he walked towards Fredrick and the window. Fredrick then found a stick to break the rest of the glass so that Jonathan would not get cut, and afterwards, Fredrick boosted Jonathan up to the window, to which Jonathan successfully crawled through, entering the same building he used to work at all those years ago.

“Do you see anything, Jonathan?” Fredrick called out through the other side of the window.

“Thats the thing- I can’t see a thing!” Jonathan yelled back, choking down a cough as he looked around for the power closet.

“It should be somewhere near the door, I think! Glass Doors, can’t miss ‘em!”

Jonathan then made his way into the lobby where sure enough, the glass doors were, and next to the doors-- or more accurately, adjacent to the doors, was the electrical closet.

“Which ones do i flip?”

“You flip all of them!” Jonathan then flipped all 10 of the switches, and within seconds, the flourescent lights lit up, revealing white tables, shelves with solutions of every kind, and dark malachite tiled floors, riddled with dust. 

“Got it!” As soon as Jonathan got the words out of his mouth, he heard a low gutteral growl from farther into the facility that echoed off of the walls..

“...Hello?” Jonathan called out, which would soon prove to be a mistake, for as soon as he finished his sentence, two spikers lunged out of the darkness towards Jonathan, sending him running back toward the window he came out of.

“SPIKERS! SPIKERS! FREDRICK, THERES TWO SPIKERS IN HERE!” 

Fredrick froze when he heard Jonathan’s scream the name of those monsters. No, No! This can’t be happening again, He thought to himself frantically. He tried his best to jump through the window to help him, but it was no use. It was then that Fredrick remembered that he had his favorite p1st0l with him in case of raiders or spikers, and he immediately drew it out of his holster, trying his best to aim it through the window, sending a few sh0ts towards the spikers that unfortunately missed. Realizing that his position would only result in him wasting amm0, he threw the p1stol to Jonathan, who caught it mid-air.

“SH00T, JON, SH00T! AIM FOR THE EYES!” He yelled, his voice momentarily distracting the spikers as Jonathan aimed into their cold unforgiving white eyes…

POP! POP-POP! POP-POP POP!

The spikers let out a horrid wretching scream as they collapsed to the floor, twitching as their last nerves die out. Finally, the two spikers that would’ve likely made Jonathan their meal were dead.

“I… I Got them, Fredrick! Thank you!” “Don’t mention it- Now, are you gonna open the doors?” Fredrick laughed nervously as he scanned the rubble to make sure no other spikers were lurking about.

“Of course! Let me go open the doors right quick!” Jonathan huffed as he ran back into the lobby to open the doors, finally letting Fredrick in.

“Wow… this place has been virtually untouched! I’m surprised that no-one has broken in besides those spikers!” Fredrick exclaimed as he noticed all of the dust and cobwebs on the shelfs and in the corners. 

“Yeah, I’m amazed that this building is even standing after the cluster-bombings and for how long its been here unmaintained!”

Now that the two men were safe and sound, Fredrick brought the ice-chest containing Olivia inside, and gently placed her into a cryogenic pod for safe-keeping and preservation.

“Alright, now that she’s safe, we should clean this place up! If we’re going to be doing any science in this place, the last thing we want is dust and spiders getting in our work!” Fredrick declared as he picked up a broom from the closet and began to sweep the dust and dirt off of the floor. Jonathan agreed, and picked up a cloth to dust the rest of the things, like the beakers, the machinery, the tables, and any other things that need cleaning. 2 hours later, the lab was finally clean and presentable, and a wooden board was put over the broken window so that neither cold nor spikers would get in.

“Ha…. now this is a lot like how I remember it..” Fredrick sighed as he set down on one of the roller chairs next to the testing tables.

“Yeah, We did Project Prometheus in this very lab, didn’t we?” “Haha! We sure did! We were a lot younger, and I was a lot skinnier!”

“Fredrick, thats because you barely ate anything during the entirety of the project! You look a lot better now then you did back in the 2020’s!” Jonathan chuckled nervously as he brought out two cots out of the back room that were to be used in the event the lab became a fallout shelter.

“I forgot we even had those cots back there!” Fredrick exclaimed with a smile, to which Jonathan smiled back.

“Well, I didn’t think we’d wanna sleep out in the cold truck, huh? I even found some blankets and pillows.” “Well good deal! Here, i’ll get the other one!” Fredrick offered as he took one of the cots out of Jonathan’s arms and began unfolding it, snapping the bars that held it open in place. They then unfolded the blankets and put them over the cots, finishing the job by putting the pillows in place.

“Its not much, but its better then sleeping on the damn floor, eh Fredrick?” Jonathan laughed. Fredrick chuckled and nodded, stretching his back until it made a quiet pop.

“It sure is, Jon! It sure is. Y’know, it kinda reminds me of the sleepovers we used to have as kids!” Fredrick reminisced as he undid his necktie and unbuttoned his dress-shirt and took off his belt and shoes to get ready to go to sleep, leaving nothing but his tank-top undershirt, pants, and black socks. 

“Oh, I remember those days! I remember we would hang out in your room playing video games, watching cartoons, and eating cheese balls and drinking root beer!” Jonathan said with a smile as he also took off his shoes and belt, trading in his periwinkle turtleneck for a baggy black t-shirt that he found while searching for the cots. Afterwards, Jonathan turned off the overhead lights, leaving one table lamp on so that he could see, and the two scientists entered their cots.

“....Hey, Jonathan?” Fredrick whispered to Jonathan as he stretched out on the cot, letting his forearms dangle on each side while his tired pine eyes looked over to him.

“Yeah, Fredrick?”

“...Thank you for helping me with this project so far. You’re probably one of the only people I can trust right now, and you being here to help me is just.. It helps more than you know.” He whispered, his voice nearly being choked over by tears. 

“Hey, thats what best friends do. I want you to be happy again, and if it means that we go back to doing science in this old lab, then I’m gonna be with you each step of the way.” Jonathan whispered back with a warm smile. Fredrick smiled, and looked up at the ceiling as Jonathan pulled the covers over himself.

“.....Goodnight, Fredrick.”

“Goodnight, Jonathan.”

[watching-pictures-move]

Movie Review | Far Cry (Boll, 2008)

For what it's worth, Uwe Boll actually has some decent ideas here when it comes to staging the action scenes. The opening scene is a nighttime ambush with grenade cam and a pseudo-pixelation effect for the monstervision. There's some FPS cam during the climax when one of the bad guys starts mowing people down with a machine gun (among them, Anthony Bourdain, who's in this for some reason). And there's a pretty decent nighttime car chase where the hero's SUV catches fire. And the few bits of gore we get are pleasingly gnarly. (Surprisingly, Olaf Ittenbach doesn't appear to have worked on this.)

But on the whole, this moves too much like a real movie, and not the herky jerky "let's piece together a bunch of shooting days from our cast" sense of progression of prime era Boll movies, to be all that fun. Boll's assembly of this movie is perfunctory but largely joyless. One of my pet theories is that Boll was energized earlier in his career by the joy of exploiting that German tax loophole, and once that was closed and he potentially faced the risk of being audited for attempting The Producers in real life, his heart was no longer in these more straightforward entertainments, and his energy switched to darker fare. I'm sure that will fall apart with the slightest prodding, but if anyone writes a thesis on Boll's career, feel free to quote that sentence.

This does have a pretty respectable cast, but aside from Michael Pare chewing the scenery and doing a voice in his minute or so of screentime, the performances are professional but not all that fun either. Even Udo Kier seems buttoned down, although I did laugh during the climax when he tried to hide his monster formula by painting over it. I do think the movie miscalculates with the casting of Til Schweiger in the lead role. He has the look of an action hero, and certain was an effective instrument of violence in Inglourious Basterds, but perhaps because of the language barrier, isn't able to pull off the wisecracking, rakish side of his character at all. He does however get a good tête-à-tête with Craig Fairbrass at the end, reminding us that good actors like Fairbrass can lift their scene partners up.

I think in trying to make this feel like a real movie, Boll miscalculates severely by adding intentional humour, because none of it lands. Worst of all is the Chris Coppola character, who Schweiger saves from choking on a meatball sandwich, and spends the rest of the movie making you wish Schweiger hadn't known how to do the Heimlich maneuver. This guy is so fucking annoying, he must have been a producer or something.

I'm disappointed to report that a Boll movie that nobody likes isn't much fun even by Boll-pilled (or Red-Boll-ed?) standards.

[highpressurephotography]

JANUARY 12, 2012 – GRANITE MOUNTAIN

A few misfires at great weather windows had me itching for some climbing and sunrise views. Colorful sunrises on my bike ride into work is one thing, but with each beautiful morning I would have a tinge of regret that I hadn’t positioned myself up in the mountains for the show. There is something special about rolling out of a sleeping bag in a remote location and watching the sun slowly light up the terrain around camp.

I finally willed myself to get out to Granite for a good weather forecast and more importantly safe avalanche conditions. I tried to coral a partner, but with my last minute decision, no one was able to join. I prefer climbing with friends – I enjoy working together, seeking out the way and importantly traveling safely with numbers. However Granite is a fairly simple undertaking, route finding is clear, cell reception is full on for the whole trip. This would be a quick up and down.

I drove up Thursday after work and started up around 8 pm. The first 1.5-2miles is on trail until the trail crosses the first large avalanche path. The summer trail actually still had foot traffic on it across the path, though this way is much longer and unnecessary when you can kick steps right up the slope. As I climbed up the snow I attempted unsuccessfully to master the skill of utilizing large easy steps that were filled in perfectly with light powder. When you found the step it was great, though you never knew when you could count on that perch. I found myself swinging hard enough to dig into the slope anyway. After a few minutes I left the footsteps and ascended more directly NW to gain the ridge on climber’s left anyway. The moon came out from the clouds and illuminated the landscape in brilliant light – I switched off my headlamp and continued up.

I gained the ridge – not surprised to find it rather wind scoured on the west side, but was a little surprised that it had scoured all the way to rock in most places. Last year in March there were some rocks on the ridgeline, but this time around there was only some snow amongst the rocks. A little meandering along on the ridge allowed me to keep crampons on and walk up in the hard packed snow. Eventually the small lookout on top of the mountain got bigger and bigger. I rejoiced at climbing the last little slope underneath the tower and pulled up right under it. Climb done in about 4 hours… fairly slow, but I was laden down with overnight gear, skis, and the bike commute in my legs from that day

Conditions were quite good for night photography. My last climb of Granite was under a new moon, so the star trails were bright and long. This time the scenery took center stage with the small streaks giving a hint of the nighttime environment. Moonlight and reflected snow off the white slopes provided wonderful light to visualize nearby peaks. Future bivys?

The sun quickly warmed me, though it must have been mental because the descent was on boiler plate dental work inducing snow. Small stashes of several cms of soft snow allowed a slightly quieter turn, but no improvement in skiing quality. I ran into several folks heading up and even one already heading down – must have gotten started early!

[abyislan08]

Traversing Teyvat

Prologue: Through the Night Aria

Authors Note: Hello! This is my first fic and this is going to be a series. Please feel free to comment and leave feedback. Hope you enjoy the series! The chapters will be updated once a week or even faster if time permits. I have never attempted at writing SAGAU and found it interesting to begin with. Hope you find this interesting.

Synopsis: After a long day of work, you decide to play Genshin. The events that unfold are quite unexpected.

<Prologue/1/2>

Masterlist

There’s nothing more soothing than the night scenery of the ever-building bridge of the place which is believed to be Celestia, Though it has never been confirmed, players all around the world have their own theories and proclamations and the game developers haven’t yet nodded to it.

After a rough day and truckloads of work that have been pushed aside for a five-minute break to do the dailies, you yawn listening to the night lullaby sung in the login and the door stands still waiting to be opened. With a gentle tap on the screen*, the blinding light engulfs you as the seven elements begin to fill with a monotone colour, preparing the world for you to do the daily commissions. The white backdrop is replaced with lush greenery and a widespread view of grasslands.

{Windrise}

Ever since a fun-loving Bard Archon showed you the tree of Vanessa, you could tell that you fell in love with the tree and this particular statue of the seven. Ever since then, the traveller has been stationed near the statue before logging out. Something in the placement of the tree and the calming environment made you want to look at this place the first thing when you logged back in.

Today in particular, you wanted to just look at the tree and take in the atmosphere, funny enough that the game provides a sense of peace that reality doesn’t. ( Though you spend your time slaughtering hillichurls and Timmie’s pigeons…how peaceful)

Dragging the traveller to look at the night sky, your hands start to tremble from fatigue and your eyes shut when the nighttime aria begins to play. The device falls straight on your face and you fall into the hands of slumber………

Ocean Waves. Strange. The sound of the waves seem to be coming from your right. Your bed feels prickly all of a sudden. This dream sure sucks. You swore that you left the traveller near windrise and logged out ( which you didn’t), so why is your dream based on the ocean? Not that you are complaining though. The sand felt warm and you could feel sunrays fill your lids, turning them red. “Time to get up, I suppose.” You open your eyes, blinking rapidly, only to meet a wide blue sky with familiar clouds. Wait. Weren’t I in bed? Was I robbed? Where am I?

You get up staggering and coughing as you breathe in the salty air. All you could see was a vast expanse of ocean. Bright, blue and overwhelming. You look down wondering what happened and your clothes are the same. Thank the gods. The rocks, the mountains, the sunlight, all of this felt nostalgic and familiar. You couldn’t exactly figure out why. Then it hits you when a tune starts playing in the background. You were in the game. Giggling to yourself, you marvelled at your imagination for creating such a wonderful and creative replica of the game and its surroundings in a dream. Still giggling, you pinch yourself to confirm whether you really were in the dream or not. It hurt. Of course it wont be real…Wait. It hurt. You raise your arm to your teeth and bite it. A screaming pain shoots up your arm. You bit your arm too hard. It started to throb and you could feel tears in your eyes. Of course, if NPCs or someone questions you, you can say that a Hillichurl bit you. Right? You sigh and take in the surroundings. This was the place where the Traveller caught Paimon. The high pitched tutorial given by the flying companion still plays in your mind. Of course, now that you are in AR 55, the tutorial didn’t matter, but that was the first step that helped you survive so long. You wondered whether you were still in the same AR. Maybe the world is different from the game. You don’t know how it works yet, though you have been playing every day without skipping even a single day for over a year. You take a deep breath and step forth in the land of Teyvat and, who knows, you might embark on an epic journey.

*The reader uses a mobile phone in the story.

[lucky-fydraws]

03/11/2022

First picture is an entry for a French Fakemon contest. The winner will receive a physical copy of either Scarlet or Violet.

It was painted with watercolors and color pencils (Winsor & Newton for both). It was one of my first backgrounds, and my first ever urban background ! And it was my first time attempting a nighttime scenery. More info on the Fakemon below!

______

Name: Chafépeur (Chat (cat) + Fée (fairy) + Peur (scary, creepy), play on word on “ça fait peur” (”that’s scary”, or even “cat’s scary” in child talk)

Type: Fairy/Flying

Ability: Intimidate // Hidden Ability: Infiltrate

Pokédex description (the subject of the contest): "Thanks to its huge ears, it can detect Insect Pokémon. At night, it uses this ability to spot and hunt the small Pokémon living in human habitation."

Inspirations and Lore: A person born in Madrid, and who’s family has for multiple generations, can take the honorary title of "gato" (cat). The origin of this title, or nickname nowadays, dates back to the 11th century, when Madrid was protected by a wall. During a conquest of the city, it is said that a soldier had climbed the wall with astonishing agility; to the point that the king had exclaimed: "Look, he looks like a cat!". Subsequently, the king had given this soldier the honorary title, which had then been passed on to his descendants.

This story inspired not only the Fairy type of Chafépeur, but also its felid-like mammalian appearance. In addition, most domestic cat owners have probably already seen their companion chase insects! :)

This Fakemon can be seen hanging on houses’ walls at night, from where it throws itself to soar and catch its prey. It uses its ears to spot insects in a 360° radius, making it a formidable predator. Despite this status, Chafépeur possesses weak defensive capabilities, making it a prey of predilection. Natural selection has thus endowed it with various motifs evoking the threatening face of a much larger creature, when the rest of its coat blends in the night. Such a face can both be seen from the back and from the front of Chafépeur. It also has a third eyelid that it deploys when it seeks to frighten predators as well as prey.

This Fakemon settled in cities to benefit from the protection of humans. However, it quickly attracted their fear for its tendency to infiltrate houses and spooking passers-by in small, bad lit streets. So much so that, like Murkrow in some regions, Chafépeur has been given the reputation of bringing bad luck ("black cat").

Design details on the "threatening face of a much larger creature": Front: - The inside of its ears looks like eyes. - Its eyes, once covered by the third eyelid, can be interpreted as nostrils. - The pattern on its body evokes a mouth.

Back: - The pattern behind its ears looks like eyes (inspiration "the white spot on the ears of some felines”). - The pattern on its body evokes a mouth.

_______

The sketches are pretty much all concept art and thumbnails.

[thebluester2022]

Tartaglia Headcanons [Warning: Smut!]

Note: I swear I'll finish my last request once I get this off my chest. If I'm going to write smut headcanons for anyone. It'll first and foremost be my husband 🙄✋🏾. This is so self-indulgent I can't even explain- P.S: This is my first time writing anything smut-related in a hot minute, got critique? Feel free to tell me! I need the tips/tricks!

Synopsis: Exploring a darker personality for Tartaglia as well as smut? Oh my!

Warning(s): Degradation, Overstimulation, Teasing, Predator/Prey Kink, Tartaglia being a bit of an ass, Dub Non-Con(?), This post is LONG

Minors, do NOT interact with this post! Keep on scrolling!

::> To start this off very bluntly. I have to make this really clear. Although Ajax can be as sweet as a daisy to the people he cares for, I genuinely believe that this guy is just bubbling with darker potential. He's killed people and has most definitely kidnapped and/or tortured a couple of folks here and there.

If he really wanted to? He could flip a switch with you and make you question exactly who in the bloody hell you let into your bedroom. With this being said, I definitely believe that his kinks will hint towards his personality, what he's capable of in the bedroom, and such.

Predator/Prey Kink? Sure. Knife-Play? With your total consent? Okay. Overstimulation? Edging? Teasing? Taming you into being the perfect cocksleeve for him? Hell yeah! If it requires a bit of a fight for him all before you eventually submit? He's up for it.

~ ~

Ah...Liyue.

Golden grassy fields as far as the eye could see, dotted with glaze lilies and strange but wonderous creatures all alike.

Grand and majestic mountains that have probably seen the beginning and the end of the Archon war, all the while birds flew around their very tops alongside the grey clouds that came with the nighttime.

Beautiful and wonderous.

Nothing unexpected of Teyvat.

Yet, though you wished you could do nothing more than roll out a blanket along with a picnic basket, simply basking in the presence of nature, watching the skies, and enjoying the scenery all around you. This night? It wasn't a normal night, for you, you were indulging an idea you and your lover have been concocting for months.

Months of making sure you both were more than definitely comfortable with what you were doing.

Months of picking out the perfect place to orchestrate things while also constantly having attempts delayed or completely taken off the mark due to the number of people being way too many.

Months of your lover damn near working his tail off to finally have a free day on this exact date.

Though doubt of this day ever coming to fruition had crossed your mind multiple times, now that the night was finally here? You could hardly wait for things to play out, your cock beginning to stir at the very idea of seeing him.

"Can't hurt to take a breather though..." You thought out loud to yourself as you took a seat near the edge of a small cliff.

Not too far of a drop to where it would kill you but, far enough to wear it would most definitely break some bones.

You double-checked your surroundings, noting the fairly worn-down house that was just down the empty road you had come from while not too far off, you could see the multiple camp-fires that came from a Hilichurl camp.

Close, too close.

Should someone scream?

If not a few of the smaller ones, two or three of the Mitachurls would definitely come to investigate the noise.

Quickly, however, you shook the thought from your mind. There was no point in freaking yourself out at the potentiality of things when you were waiting for your lover to arrive. It was bad luck!

Yet, as the minutes began to slowly drag out into an hour. The gentle night breeze threatening to lull you to sleep, all of a sudden, you could feel a presence behind you.

"Ajax-"

"Well now...what's a little cutie like yourself doing out here all alone? Especially in an area infested with men like me and dangerous Hilichurls?"

You turned your head, your eyes dragging upwards until your eyes widened in fear at the sight. From the grey and red boots, all the way to the similarly colored pants before you eventually reached his face- or...well, covered one.

A Fatui mask.

That alone made you quickly rise to your feet, your short stature compared to his tall one making the feeling of danger rise more and more as you could do nothing more than look at him.

You could almost imagine the smirk behind the mask he wore as he let out a chuckle and began to get into your personal space.

"What's wrong? Cat got your tongue? Why won't you speak to me cutie?" He continued to ask.

"Say! I could escort you somewhere safer? Wouldn't you like that? A cute one such as yourself, it'd be dangerous should anything dangerous happen upon you right?"

You slowly shook your head, you weren't going anywhere with a member of the Fatui. Especially this one.

Though you were unclear about exactly what made him seem...off.

It was definitely nothing good.

"I-I don't have anything to talk to you about-" You let out a yelp at the act of him suddenly taking ahold of the front of your shirt, practically dragging you closer to him.

"I'm trying to be nice here." He growled.

"Don't you wanna come with me?" He continued before he suddenly pulled you up until your feet were dangling.

You gripped onto his arm, trying to cause damage by digging your nails into his arm as nothing but fear filled your senses while he walked until you were dangling over the edge of the cliff.

"Would be quite the shame! For me to drop you~ What's it going to be cutie? Are you going to come with me? Or risk seeing if you'll be to fly?"

Was it even a question at this point?

"Y-You!"

::> How does one say "Ha, you thought" in Russian, 'cause this guy is the epitome of that phrase. As much as he loves the thrill of battle. I feel like he loves the thrill of a good chase as well, sometimes, things just taste sweeter when you work for them a little y'know? If he's exerting energy on you, it's because he thinks you're worth it and with that thought, he expects nothing more than a good challenge from you!

Try and fight, go on, he dares you. He'll probably hold back a little. Make you think that you have a chance of winning against him before he suddenly crushed all that hope like one would blow out a candle. Sure, showing submission from the get-go is good and all but earned submission?

I have a feeling he'd enjoy it almost too much.

~ ~

Running and running and running.

As your pulse thundered in your ears, your heart beating against your ribcage as you ran without any true sense of where you were actually going. The only thing that went through your mind was the raw paranoia and fear that someone was right behind you.

You had no idea where the strength to fight off that strange man had come from, though it was no easy feat for sure, he was stronger than he looked. Nevertheless, you were surprised that you had managed the feat but...with that reward came its consequence as you found yourself taking a brief moment to catch your breath at the cross-section of a road.

You were lost.

Liyue Habor was far...you were certain that if that Fatui member didn't catch you.

With a lack of weapons, armor or anything that could remotely protect you.

Something else in the wilds would.

You swiftly turned your head behind you at the sound of a whistle, followed along by a mocking series of laughter.

"Taking a break already?!" A voice called out, your eyes wide like a deer staring at the end of a gun as you darted your head around.

"I'm barely even breaking a sweat..." The voice continued.

You gulped. "W-What do you want with me?!" You yelled.

"Leave me alone!"

Another series of laughter. "Yes! Keep up that attitude...it makes this hunt all the more satisfying."

Like minutes earlier on that cliff edge, once more, you felt a presence behind you.

"Unless...you're already tired?" The Fatui member smirked before he grabbed your arm and forced you to turn around.

As you were forced to look at your pursuer, the grip on your chin firm but still allowing you room to move away if you so truly wished, you almost averted your eyes away in embarrassment at the fact that you actually considered the man handsome despite the situation.

The rough textured feeling of his glove on your chin while his free hand roamed around on your lower backside without shame, teasingly raising up your shirt from time to time as he snickered and laughed with amusement at your expression.

You were like a lost little lamb to him, a lamb that had unfortunately gotten chased and eventually caught by the wolf.

But...rather than eat you alive, the more he looked down at you.

Your flushing cheeks, the way your thighs clenched and rubbed together while your eyes began to glaze over with impending lust and want.

Even in a situation like this.

He could still read you like a book.

"We've been playing this game of chase for too long now have we little lamb?"

Unconsciously, you nodded your head.

He chuckled. "So obedient~ seems like your mind and body are finally talking the same language aren't they?" He continued as his hand began to dip into your pants.

A soft moan escaped your lips at the act of his gloved hand beginning to rub over your cunt, your eyes closing in both shame as well as a need to enjoy the feeling before his hand suddenly tore itself away from your needy sex.

"Hm..." He hummed in displeasure.

"Though...I don't think I'm feeling that charitable yet, to let you cum after giving me such a hard time. Say, do you think you need a punishment little lamb?" He asked, his grip on your chin tightening as he rubbed your slick off on the side of your cheek.

Did you? With this conveniently handsome stranger?

Your body betrayed you at the last moment possible, making you appear like you needed him more than anything when in reality? You just wanted to go back home-

"Come on now, don't keep me waiting cutie." He said in boredom before he shook your chin a little, interrupting your thoughts.

"Be grateful that I'm even considering tending to your needy little-"

You stepped on his foot.

A bold move made him smirk underneath his mask before a sigh left him.

"Do your worst!" You shouted, the feeling of his free hand gripping the fat of your ass making another moan escape you in betrayal.

So unfortunate he thought, he was feeling nice!

Well, no matter, he's always been good at breaking down the weak who tried to appear strong.

This should be fun.

::> When all is said and done, the gleeful battle for dominance and the likes? Trust and believe me that the man is going to enjoy his spoils of war, whether it takes him a minute, an hour, or even a day. Try to rush or complain? He'll simply ignore you and keep on using you until his heart's content, and bless your poor insides if you even think of shedding a tear during this whole exchange.

Crying besides his cock's too fat? Hitting your special spots just right? At most, he'll mutter that you're weaker than he thought for not being able to handle a little overstimulation before his thrusts get more brutal.

Of course though, if it truly is too much and the painful pleasure becomes more painful than pleasurable. He will slow down and check up on you, checking for any signs of uncomfortableness and asking you if you're up still up for continuing.

~ ~

He was enjoying his spoils of war.

A gorgeous cutie such as yourself? Wailing with pleasure as your eyes rolled to the back of your head whilst your tongue was hanging out like a bitch in heat? A tad bit annoying that he had to straighten your attitude out a little more once you got back to the shabby old cottage back up the road from where you two came.

From making you milk his cock with your mouth until your eyes were watery and you drooled.

To this very moment of fingering you stupid! Your squirms and desperate grip upon his clothes only serving to make his cock twitch in excitement while he had to practically force himself to stay in control of himself.

Where was the fun of unwrapping and enjoying a toy so early?

Prepping it and teasing it a little...

So much better.

"F-Fuck...shit...!" You cried out as yet another orgasm was torn from your body, your thighs trembling and shaking before they fell back onto the bed.

The Fatui's hand only ceased for a second before it started back up again, your mouth raw from your earlier screams while your body was beginning to squirm less and less from fatigue.

"Oi! Wake your slutty ass up." The Fatui spat, slapping the side of your thigh as it sent a jolt throughout your body and made your eyes hoot open.

"You brought this upon yourself, the least you could do is stay awake." He grumbled

You shook your head, your grip on the Fatui's clothes growing weak as your hands fell to your sides. "Please..." You moaned out.

"M-Mercy...I-I want-" You whined as you tried to squirm away from his hand.

Slowly but surely, his hand began to cease as he began to lean forward, his mask ghosting over your lips as you heard a hum leave him. "Mercy?" He parroted with a scoff.

"I. Don't. Think. You've. Earned. That." He said, accentuating each word with a slap against your pussy, more of your juices flowing from your abused cunt as slurred moans left your lips.

Yet...you didn't want to come another time to his skilled fingers.

You wanted to be filled with something else.

Your cheeks flushed in embarrassment as you looked down towards the evident bulge in his pants, your knee weakly raising up to rub against it as you pulled off the best puppy eyes you could.

"Tell me my cute little whore, what do you think you can say or do to earn my mercy?" He said, the smirk clear behind his mask despite you not being able to see it.

"That.."

"That?"

"Y-Your cock...please...I-I want you cock! Let me earn your mercy through your cock!" You cried out with a whine at the end.

Your pleas fell on deaf ears as his fingers began to start thrusting into you again.

"C'mon~ haven't you been taught better? Where do you want my cock? What? Should I tire out your pathetic mouth next?"

Quickly, you shook your head as you licked your lips, your knee rubbing his cock one last time before you eventually spread your legs, presenting your glistening pussy clearer to him as you gave the best doe-eyes you could muster.

You licked your lips. "I want...I want your cock, my pussy needs it. Please...Tartaglia." You begged.

"Let me earn your mercy through p-pleasuring you with my slutty pussy...!" You continued, your lover thrusting his fingers a few more times before he sighed and raised his mask a little to lick your juices clean off his fingers.

He hummed in approval. "I suppose I'll oblige this time." Your lover said as he began to undress to match your fully naked form, tossing his mask to be forgotten somewhere else in the room.

"T-Thank you- AH!!"

Your words of gratitude were soon interrupted and replaced by the sounds of lewd squelching and slapping noises as the bed underneath you began to hit the wall rhythmically, the sight of your lover fucking the ever-living daylights of you making a fucked-ou smile come onto your face.

A sight that the man couldn't help but laugh at in a mixture of adoration, praise, and shock.

"Your just that happy to be stuffed full with cock?!" He laughed.

"Shit...had I known that some dick would shut you up this quickly, I would've fucked you in the middle of the fucking dirt road!"

You clenched at the dirty thought, an act that your lover didn't miss as he smirked in pride and leaned forward, pushing your legs up to fold you into a full nelson as your moans became choked out gasps and groans at how deep he was plunging into your insides. "Oho~ did my little slut like that thought? Being fucked where anyone and everything could see?" Tartaglia chuckled.

"Dirty little whore~ I bet you'd even get off to being fucked in front of a bunch of Hilichurls. Wouldn't you?" He moaned next to your ear, not exactly expecting a response as he watched you continue to lose yourself to the depths of pleasure.

A fitting expression for his perfect cocksleeve. Fucked-out on his dick and pleading for his mercy, he nearly had a mind to congratulate you for begging for his mercy for earnestingly by pleasing him.

Yet...he wasn't going to be the one to tell you that pleading for her mercy to stop and let you take a small break would take more than just one round.

Your gummy walls clenching around him, trying to milk him for all that he's worth while his tip repeatedly kissed your cervix? He'd give it to you, you had a good and obedient pussy on you, one that knew to recognize its owner when he came to give you pleasure.

Yet, as the sounds of your moans grew elevated once more and your walls started to tighten on his length, his thrusts grew sloppier and sloppier as well as more desperate as he began to chase after his release like a man dying of thirst.

"Tartagliaaa~" You slurred out.

"I-I'm-"

He let out a groan. "I'm close as well." He moaned as he gently nipped your ear, dragging his lips down afterward until he hovered above your neck.

"Cum around my cock baby, let's cum together." He whispered into your ear, dragging his lips down before he hovered right above your neck.

"My obedient little cutie, let me feel my prize come to completion~"

::> I feel like this one is kind of expected if your going to be extremely kinky but this guy is really good at Aftercare. After all that physical exertion he'll do to you? He has to be! I feel like Tartaglia will be showering you with kisses, giving you food and water should you request it, and just, in general, be at your every beck and call.

Although he may and do some pretty harsh and objectively scary things, he doesn't want you to confuse his acts for being what he truly thinks about you in secret. He does love you, and his entire aftercare routine is about showing and reminding you of that fact.

~ ~

"Comfortable?" Tartaglia said, running a hand through his hair as he sat behind you in the tub.

You nodded your head with a raspy giggle. "Very, thank you for carrying me home."

He shrugged, flashing you a smile. "It's the least I could do after you indulged me so well tonight my love." He grinned as he pulled you closer towards his chest, pressing kisses on top of your head and on the side of your face while he rubbed his hands up and down your arms.

"Though..."

He stopped, ready to hear any and every critique you may have.

"You could start wearing that outfit of yours more often."

He couldn't help but burst out laughing.

"D-Don't laugh damn it!" You said, turning your head turns him with a pout.

He placed a hand over his chest dramatically. "Are you saying you don't like me in my normal clothes?" He gasped.

You rolled your eyes, watching as he grabbed a bottle of water from a small stand situated right near the bath.

"No! Can't I like a little black and red?" You grumbled as you turned around and wrapped your arms around your lover, letting your chin rest on his chest with a huff.

"Nah." Tartaglia snickered before he offered you the water bottle.

You shook your head before he kissed your lips and took a sip of the cold drink himself.

"For you baby? I'll wear anything."

"Anything?" You wiggled your eyebrows suggestively.

"Okay, maybe not anything..." He said, his cheeks beginning to dark a darker shade of red as he scratched the back of his neck.

You chuckled, straining your neck a little to kiss your lover on the lips with a smile.

He smirked into the kiss as he wrapped his arms around you, leaving his back against the end of the tub.

"Love you too." Tartaglia winked.

[singing-wanderer]

𝕙𝕚𝕚𝕚 𝕨𝕚𝕫 𝕚 𝕒𝕞 𝕒𝕘𝕘𝕣𝕖𝕤𝕤𝕚𝕧𝕖𝕝𝕪 𝕚𝕟𝕓𝕠𝕩𝕚𝕟𝕘 𝕪𝕠𝕦 <3 𝕙𝕚𝕚 𝕞𝕒𝕪 𝕚 𝕣𝕖𝕢𝕦𝕖𝕤𝕥 𝕪𝕒𝕟𝕕𝕖𝕣𝕖 𝕤𝕙𝕖𝕠 <3 𝕪𝕠𝕦𝕣𝕖 𝕥𝕙𝕖 𝕓𝕖𝕤𝕥 𝕓𝕖𝕤𝕥𝕚𝕖 /𝕘𝕖𝕟

-𝕕𝕠𝕔𝕔𝕚𝕥𝕪 𝕨𝕠𝕔𝕔𝕚𝕥𝕪 /𝕛

YO ITS THE BEING THAT FUCKS

Yes my dear friend you may!! Anything for the person that bullies me bc I love Stanford [=

(My fave is better /j)

So I’m gonna go for hc style on this one to feed the wonderful masses!

Romantic Yan Sheo x Reader

WARNINGS: Yandere behavior, obsessive tendencies, worshipful behavior, tiny tiny hints at smut, forced cuddling, mentions of genitalia to make a “suck my dick” moment.

You probably encountered him on one of his rare trips out of his home, to practice painting the green shades of Greenpath. His head snapped your way as you hissed, having a nasty and intimate encounter with the vines. A quiet chuckle left the bug, entertained by your anger towards the unmoving specimen. No fault but your own, though he had pity. Easing his form up, he crept behind you, going to offer his services,

Until you put a nail at his throat. Little cuts littered your clothes and body, soul leaking out your form like a faucet. Although you attempted to hold yourself stiff, you shook like a leaf lost from Unn’s reach. You were just a scared bug who was hurt and angry. The nail master had to stop himself from pulling at his paintbrush, deciding a diplomatic route would end this far quicker than any fight would. Not to say he couldn’t end you in seconds, especially considering your unfortunate health, but still. Mercy was sweet on a traveler so lucky.

It took a bit of coaxing, but you eventually lowered your nail to your hip (he found himself staring, much to his own embarrassment) and allowed him to guide you to his home. An off journey, especially with him having to carry you through the thorns. You had not a clue how his legs weren’t torn through by the natural dangers, but kept silent. A smart wanderer knows not to run the tongue lest it be cut. The trip was mostly filled with his chatter, seeming happy to have company even if it wasn’t exactly willing. His voice was nonstop. Switching between saying how you’d make a great subject for a painting and admiration of how strong you were even while injured.

Somewhere along the way, lost to the rumbling of Sheo’s voice, you drifted to sleep. It was a sweet, long slumber, filled with nothing but warmth. For once, you felt safe. For once, the infection and fighting were far out of your mind’s reach. Although you weren’t out of Sheo’s reach. His brush strokes were weak attempts to capture the beauty in front of him. He’d never seen such a truly peaceful face, especially from someone so worried. You used your nail as an extension of yourself; great for fighting, horrible for everyday life. Based off the way you slouched you probably hadn’t known a days peace in a long while.

The brush twitched with his hand, worry creasing his brow as he realized: you probably hadn’t had a days peace. But Sheo…he could help you find peace. All you had to do was trust him. You deserved better than what this world had to offer muse. Nothing but violence.

You had stayed with him for a couple days after that, often catching him speedily trying to outline something of those many canvasses of his. You were told not to look at them, under claims that they were just scenery practice and personal stuff a wanderer wouldn’t care for. Especially when you plan to hit the road soon. Although every time the bug mentioned it, he seemed anxious or even angry whenever you brought up leaving. You had to give it to him, he was good at prying information out of you. Stories of your childhood, your travels, and despite not being exactly an artist, what art you might like to see. It led to quite the interesting conversation, him doubling over as he laughed at your incorrect use of painting terminology. “The uh….the subject would be…Crystal Peak?” “THATS NOT WHAT A SUBJECT IS-“

Slowly these moments occurred more naturally between the two of you, slipping into a rhythm you would’ve loved to hear the end of, if you didn’t have to leave. Sheo hated it really, staring down the packed bag you carried. Seldom did you open the bag, despite his most often of queries to its contents. Truly puzzling. Something he loved; something he’d miss. Imagination was his greatest gift and curse, happily imagining you staying with him, finally being a willing and knowing participant of his paintings. To stay and learn new talents with him. No one was unreachable he believed, and he approached you all the same.

It hurt then, when on your last day he left for errands. He insisted you try and wait for him to get back to see you off, claiming to never have had such a visitor as yourself. “Truly a wonder you are,” he whispered almost breathlessly, “to have stumbled upon me in this accursed garden meant to keep all out.” Of course, you did your best to hold out. Couldn’t stand to think of hurting such a sweet soul as that. Biding time, you stared at the corner of the room filled with cloaked paintings. It taunted you, sheet draped so eerily well against the frames. It was only right then for you to strip the portraits of their confines, open them to the light and see the true nature.

Oh you wished you hadn’t. Your own reflection taunted you, of you sleeping, of you laughing, even you redressing after you had awoken. What kind of nonsense? No, no you had to flee. It was exactly as you had feared, an artist falling for someone to leave. Poetic brutality could suck your dick, you weren’t going to be trapped in some hut while the world awaited you. With a packed bag slung over your shoulder, the door opened and your feet moving forward-

Everything hurt. That’s all that crossed your mind. That you couldn’t see anything, and that everything was sore. Soft breathing came from beside you, a heavy arm becoming visible as your eyes creaked open to the dim moonlight. Nighttime? But you were supposed to leave yesterday. Instinctively, your hand traced your side for you nail, only to have an even larger hand cover it. “Stop moving so much my love. You’re making it hard to sleep. We both need our rest.”

Fear froze your frame. Sheo’s voice. The one you had fallen asleep too. What had he done? Supposedly knocked you out with how your head throbbed, causing you to feel sore. But now, he easily restrained you as his body slotted against yours, sighing happily and nuzzling into you.

What a perfect world to live in, with just you, your muse, and all the paint you could ever need.

WOOP WOOP AND DONE!! Shout out to you and Jack, once again doc for inspiring me to start this blog. Request anything you want at any time. You might even get a pass when requests are closed ;]

[insomnihan]

han’s Entire Thoughts & Feelings on Dreamcatcher’s “BEcause”

WE ARE F UCKING UNDER ATTAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAACK!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

there are no read mores here so ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

ALRIGHT SO-

THE SONG WHERE DO I START WELL- I SAW A COMMENT SOMEWHERE THAT WAS LIKE ‘THIS HAS GOODNIGHT CREEPINESS WITH RED SUN ESSENCE’ WHOEVER THAT WAS YOUR BRAIN IS GINORMOUS™ AND WRINKLY- IF YOU LISTEN TO IT THE SLIGHT SUMMER VIBE IS TOTALLY THERE YET THE PIANO AND THE HARP (MAYBE I DUNNO BUT WHAT I DOONO IS THAT IT SLAPS) THE PRE CHORUS BUILD UP FAST AS HELL THE DRUMS ARE FAST AS S HIT THE CLOCK IS SO CREEPY THE GUITAR IS JUST ASDFFJGHLHKL;;’ THE DOUBLE TIME DURING DAMIS RAP THAT WAS LITERALLY™ AN ATTEMPT TO TAKE MY LIFE (they were this 👌 close istg) AND THEN THE BRDIGE…………………… SOMEONE TAKE THE WHEEL-

AND THEN THEIR VOICES POWERFUL AS ALWAYS AND THAT F UCKING DISTORTION S HIT DURING ‘FOREVER LOVE AND FOREVER MINE’ IS ACTUAL DR*GS- i dunno what it is but the instrumental being like that and then (to me anyway) theres such a sweet undertone (???) in how they sing and then knowing the lyrics likE I KNOW THEYRE OBSESSED- B O I DO I MISS A FAST DAMI RAP P L E A S E I FEEL LIKE SHES THREATENING ME I LOVE THAT PSYCHO NOISE B ICYJ- THAT BRIDGE IS F UCKING CRAZY SIYEONS AND HANDONGS AND YOOHYEONS GENTLE VOICES AND THEN S U A!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! YOUREALLYGOTTACOMEOUTOFTHELEFTGODDAMNFIELDWITHTHATICANTSTANDYOUHOWDAREYOUJUSTAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

hello hello for the dance section i will be using THE mcountdown performance yEAH THE ONE POSTED BEFORE THE ACTUAL MV/ALBUM DROP- FIRST OF ALL THE INTRO sorry i have to talk about this theyre so creepy and doll like and jiu is so menacing lIKE WHAT THE F UCK IS THAT (someone answer me what iN THE F CUK did she feed yoohyeon)- NOW ANYWAY I HAVE THINGS TO SAY ABOUT THE ACTUAL DANCE-

OFF THE BAT THE MIRROR INTRODUCTION IS *CHEFS KISS* and then gahyeon choking jiu?????????? LORE????????? IN CHOREOGRAPHY?????????

LISTEN. L I S T E N. ALL OF THEM LIFTING YOOHYEON AT 1:29 LIKE THATS INSANE AND SO FITTING FOR THIS SONG AND VIBE plus yknow………………… handong doing a lot of the lifting………… 👉👈

this specific video doesnt show it during suas verse (which is like Rude™ but fine they show it elsewhere obv) but when shes singing and the rest of them are dropping down slowly………………… yeah-

THE CHORUS EVERY👏SINGLE👏F UCKING👏TIME👏 LIKE THE POSE THEY DO FOR ‘BE’?????????????? THE POWER AND THE GENIUS™ OF IT??????????????????????

DAMI UNHAND ME UNHOLY DEMON!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

the bridge…………… the rocking from side to side…………… whatever the f uck handong and yoohyeon are doing…………… it was almost like sua was controlling everyone right like deadass im scared-

THE DANCE BREAK PLS LET ME BREATHE

the ending with everyone bowing but gahyeon…………

BICTH……………… BICHY- THE VISUALS JUST KEEP LEVELING THE F UCK UP THATS LIT RALLY INSANE I LOVE THAT FOR THEM- the moment that mystery code was revealed and we were getting demented creepy carnival i waS V I B R A T I N G™ WITH EXCITEMENT the creepy scenery of the  dark hotel lobby and the rundown carnival with the merry go round and teacups AND WITH A CULT and the hallway with the mirrors and the lights (like the use of SO much red and green……… the symbolism………) JUST EVERYTHING IS SO F UCKING ABANDONED AND S HIT- THE LITERAL MIRRORING AND DIMENSION S HIT WHAT THE F UCK!!!!!!!!!!!! THAT CREEPY ASS ROOM WHERE THEY KIDNAPPED GAHYEON IN AND SIYEON WAS ACTING ALL TWITCHY OR WHATEVER WHAT WAS THAT-

TIME TO SHOW WHICH SCENES I LIKED

THE WHOLE GODDAMN THI-

(jk ☺️)

OFF THE BAT GAHYEON MAIN CHARACTER I KNOW THATS RIGHT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

…………………… i just wanted to put this here-

i just wanted to put this here too-

HOW DID YOU EVEN GET HERE

id like to think that the real handong is one getting dragged away and the one standing is the doppelganger (for Plot™ purposes)

W H A T T H E F U C K

I DUNNO WHAT TO SAY OTHER THAN IM SCARED-

G OD WHAT IS HAPPENING HERE THIS PART WAS SO WEIRD WHAT DOES THIS MEAN WHAT DOES IT MEAN

HELLO??????????????????

yeah sure let me take this apple from this broken mirror where another me lies within the walls of this creepy hotel anD EAT IT

W E L P-

………………………………… F-

T H E M

I DUNNO HOW IM BREATHING RN-

JIU

whaT IN THE F UUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUCK!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! THIS SCENE IN THIS SCREENSHOT IS ALREADY A LOT the way she looks seemingly unassuming and harmless in that reception desk that brown and white outfit (is her hair in like………… pigtails???) and then the smile to the instant glare you jusT KNOW youre gonna d*e in that place- MAAAAN BANGS OR NO BANGS SHES STUNNING EITHER WAY AND THATS SO RUDE………… the white dress and those red ACTUAL TALONS will be the d*ath of me

SUA

if i counted correctly she had three (3) different outfits??? outside of the dance ones??? white and red then black and purple then that green and black one??? i think of all of those i really like the red and the green one theres SOMETHING ABOUT THEM i think the green one with the big puffy sleeves more NOT BC ITS MY FAVORITE COLOR I SWEAR the green looks silky and then she also has the thing on the side of her face the pearls in her hair- AND THEN THAT RED ONE with the white sleeves and the frilly collar dude whAT THE F UCK LIKE I KNOW WE SAW IT A LOT BUT I WANNA SEE MORE THO……………

SIYEON

OKAYOKAYOKAY LOOK- THIS OUTFIT IN THIS SCREENSHOT I FEEL LIKE I SHOULDNT LIKE IT YET I DO????????????? two completely different looking patterns that animal print and the strips and then that big ass belt (???) around her waist like this shouldnt be like a GOOD look i dont think……… truly only She™ could make this look work 😔😔😔 i got A LOT A LOT to say about the red and orange plaid crop top and skirt with the different colored clips in her head but the only thought going through my Dumb of Ass Stupid Brain™ iS HAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA-

HANDONG

HAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! MY NATURAL BLONDE BELOVED this white dress and the BLACK BOOTS AND THE CHOKER SHE BETTER S TOP- AND DO NOT I REPEAT D O N O T!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! SPEAK TO ME!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! ON THAT SHORT WHITE DRESS WITH THE WHITE BOOTS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! WHOEVER STYLED HER YOU DONT CARE ABOUT ME AND THE OTHER HANDONGISTS YET I ALSO LOVE YOU SO MUCH the one with the pink dress dont talk to me dont approach me donT EVEN F UCKING LOOK AT ME IM GOING THROUGH A LOT RN

YOOHYEON

im really Dumb of Ass™ i thought that one pink and (maybe???) super light blue dress had a clock on it- BUT MOVING ON FROM THAT the space buns and whatever those accessories those are and the pink makeup this is sO- then the white dance outfit with those (mesh??? lace??? i just know that its see through-) sleeves and those big ass earrings THAT LOOK AT 2:24 the boots (yeah i gotta mention that first since i just ALWAYS have to mention them) the white blazer all those pearl long ass necklaces and whatever that is on the side of her face why do her visuals HURT SO BAD-

DAMI

bicth…………………………………… B I C T H- WHAT HAS THIS WOMAN BEEN DOING??????!!?!?!?!?!!?!?!?!?!??!??!?!?! THIS OUTFIT IS SUCH AN ATTACK I DONT EVEN KNOW WHAT THAT IS ON HER FACE THIS WHOLE LOOK IS SOMETHING ELSE™ her tattoo 🥵🥵🥵🥵🥵🥵🥵 that bottom part of her hair is kinda clapped tho honestly- the pig tails?????? braids?????? in the dancing part on the black and white tiles IM DOWN YALL IM DOWN SO BAD AND ITS F UCKING RUDE™ THAT WE DONT SEE S HIT OF THAT DRESS AT THE END-

GAHYEON

IM GONNA SAY IT AGAIN LEE👏GAHYEON👏MAIN👏CHARACTER👏I👏KNOW👏THATS👏RIGHT👏👏👏👏👏👏👏!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! THIS RED HAIR IS A BLESSING (especially in that high ponytail i-) SHE IS ATTACKING ME BUT YKNOW WHAT THATS OKAY- im SURE theres a plot significance to her two different dresses the mostly black and the mostly white but my brain can only register WOMAN PRETTY that white one in particular…………… the choker with her hair up and those boots…………… i saw it clear as day and im d wording over it-

BONUS TIME: B-SIDE TRACKS (thoughts and parts i liked)

Intro

i usually expect the intro to be like SUPER HYPE AND INTENSE yknow which it kinda is! however it is consistent that it fits very well and captures the overall vibe of the entire album the calm beginning with the bell like were walking into an establishment and at the halfway point it picks up its intriguing and the ‘i like you’ adds a subtle eeriness that adds just enough to make one wanna continue listening its v good 👌

Airplane

LISTEN……………… LISTEN- this is the VERY LAST genre i expected out of this group YET im not even a little bit shocked that they did this like this cutesy izone-esque summer bop of a song is a DREAMCATCHER™ song……………… YALL- THE AMOUNT OF SEROTONIN THAT ‘AIRPLANE LALALALALALA~~~~~~~’ BRINGS IS SOMETHING SO PERSONAL THIS SECOND GENERATION SUMMERY ASS INSTRUMENTAL WHAT IN THE F UCK- I FEEL LIKE IM RUNNING ON THE BEACH I FEEL THE COLD WIND OF THE WATER BUT THE HEAT OF THE SUN AGAINST MY SKIN AND IM PLAYING WITH A DAMN BEACH BALL WITH A COCONUT DRINK (I F UCKING H*TE LEAVING MY HOUSE) JIU AND DAMI SOUND SO F UCKING PHENOMENAL

Whistle

im pretty firm on believing these b sides represent different times of a summer day and this is the late evening or twilight like not nighttime but CLOSE- i thought i wasnt gonna like the whistling part but that only makes it catchieR THIS SONG IS MAKING ME YEARN AND TRYING TO RECALL LOVELY MEMORIES I DONT EVEN HAVE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! then again……………… theres always usually a song on their albums that make me unlock and feel hidden emotions………… THIS SONG GOT ME MISSING A PERSON THAT ISNT REAL this is such a mellow yet so powerful in the way they sing and express each syllable- they all did so good on this song but i gotta mention dami again for her part like oH mY gOoOoOooOoOOOooOD

Alldaylong

JIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIUUUUUUUUUUUUU!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! the way this song was inspired by a hug jiu got from yoohyeon…………… THIS IS NOT A JOKE she said ‘i wanna try city pop’ anD SHE DONE DID IT- i have NO IDEA how this song managed to hold so much joy and light happiness in every word and instrument used in this but im :ccccccc i literally wanna hug someone after listening to this 😔😔😔 this also makes me yearn for something but at least this one isnt unrealistic or unobtainable i dont think! there are some songs out there that make me cry from its lyrics and its sound but THIS ONE the lyrics and just how happy this song is bro reading the lyrics im about to cry for like the fifth time- they who im love so much… :ccccccc doesnt it make you just wanna hug someone and tell them you love them????????? that you appreciate them??????????

해바라기의 마음 (A Heart of Sunflower)

i knew FOR A FACT FOR👏A👏FACT👏 that they were gonna have a ballad for this album bc road to utopia didnt have one i will admit i was one of the 🤡 that thought jiu would be credited on this song 😬😬😬 ANYWAY- AGAIN WITH THE DAMN YEARNING FOR SOMETHING BUT THIS TIME IM F UCKING SAD AS S HIT why must this song be so powerful to make me emotional before i even got to read the lyrics to fully grasp it……………………… now im truly yearning in the Sad™ way and waiting for some imaginary person who i dont even know will even come back…………………… those damn adlibs are pretty as hell it was sua (and i have to mention dami again okay shes really killing it on this she woNT LET ME LIVE-) who got me feeling this the most like yeah…………………… i am a fool…………… im a fool for loving and missing someone who just disappeared from my lifE G O D D A M N IT-

LIKE this is COMPLETELY surprising album BUT IN THE BEST WAY POSSIBLE as its described it really is a ‘special’ album as while the title track still has their music style and sound theres still an element of summer (a very Terrifying™ summer BUT a ✨Summer✨ album nonetheless) like the b sides are SO different and COMPLETELY caught me off guard when i listened to the highlight medley YET this group of seven amazing and talented women pulled it off!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! its extremely obvious at this point that their steady and organic growth has grown VERY HIGH this time and (although im still very confused by how everything was released and announced BUT i digress) this different kind of method in performing the song the day before seemed to work?????????? I DUNNO WHAT TO SAY ANYMORE this section could literally be summed to just I LOVE DREAMCATCHER SO MUCH 😭😭😭😭😭😭😭

IN CONCLUSION: LISTEN TO THIS ALBUM BECAUSE ITS BOMB AS F UCK

AND AS ALWAYS

[kaitoujokerscans]

The Night the Silver Cape is Set Ablaze CH5

<5> Spade's Preoccupation

Around the same time, the Twin Thunder Shark was cruising over somewhere else. It was a dark, moonless night. Spade and Dark Eye were sitting next to each other in the pilot seats. They were on a course for the holding place of a treasure they had sent out advance notice for. Spade glanced outside the window to the side. I'm feeling unsettled...

Ever since he had visited Joker's place, Spade's mind had been clouded over. Not because Joker had refused his generosity. He hadn't expected to manage a decent talk with Joker in the first place. What unsettled Spade was how an advance notice had been delivered to Joker from Noir. He had adjusted the story for Joker at the time, but actually, what Spade received wasn't an advance notice.

Spade recalled the letter from Noir.

 To Phantom Thief Spade,

I've heard your skills are top-notch among phantom thieves. I would like to ask your assistance.

-Phantom Thief Noir

 Of course, he was suspicious of the letter from the moment it arrived. Spade wouldn't be deceived by compliments. Joker came to mind immediately.

Is this one of Joker's pranks? Is he just trying to get a laugh at my expense when he sees me take up this offer without paying any heed...?

Then I'll just have to make the first move myself.

Spade had gone out to visit him with full conviction, but not only was it not Joker's doing, an advance notice had been sent from Noir to Joker as well.

Somehow, he felt as if he had lost. This "Noir" enigma was challenging Joker, and he was attempting to recruit Spade for it. Did he think he would be easier to manage? He considered Joker an enemy, yet wouldn't consider Spade as one.

That's why I lied on the spot...

"Spade-sama."

Hearing his name called suddenly, Spade snapped back.

"Kyo kyo, we'll be arriving shortly..."

"Ah, all right."

Spade overlooked the scenery beneath the front window. A small island floated in the middle of a dark ocean. The circular island was completely built over and looked like a maritime citadel. Rightly so, as this was the "Miral Fort Hotel", a former fortress remodeled into a hotel.

Sitting in the middle of the ocean, its manmade appearance gave it an imposing and out-of-place atmosphere. Yet as it was surrounded on all 360 degrees by water and removed from the bustle of the city, it was popular with rich people who wanted rare quiet. In spite of the exorbitant lodging fee, it was booked years in advance. He had come to steal a jewel from a wealthy woman who was staying there.

"..." Spade took a quick breath. "I need to discipline myself better..." he whispered. A letter that could have been a mere prank had him ruffled. Enough of that, don't even start. I have to focus on my thief work...

Beside him, Dark Eye peered over. "Kyo kyo, Spade-sama? Is something the matter?"

"No, it's nothing. It's about time to go."

"Indeed. Shall I still follow the plan you outlined earlier?"

"Yes, that will do."

"Then let us depart," said Dark Eye, putting on a head-to-toe black suit and a black backpack to blend into the dark of night. Then they carefully adjusted the hand of their wristwatch.

"All right, mission start."

"Understood."

Spade pushed a button and the floor opened up beneath them. Still upright, the pair dropped. Their silhouettes were silently swallowed up by the darkness of night.

In one of the hotel's rooms, a man observed the dark sea. A thin plume of purple smoke rose from the cigar in his mouth. The man shifted his attention to the advance notice in his hand.

 Tonight, I will steal the 'Octopus Turquoise' from the lady staying at the Miral Fort Hotel.

-Phantom Thief Spade

 "..." Without a word, the man lit the advance notice with his cigar and flung it into the ashtray. The advance notice burned silently.

"Ohohohoho, so it seems not even Phantom Thief Spade is able to come to this remote island!" Behind the man, a wealthy-looking lady laughed. Though she spoke elegantly, her words had an obnoxious ring. "It was worth renting out this secluded hotel. Even if he does manage to enter, he'll be caught in short order."

"Yes, exactly so." The man exhaled another puff of smoke out his mouth. The cigar smoke silently rose toward the ceiling of the luxurious room.

They were in the hotel's biggest suite. The spacious living room was in a circular shape and was furnished with a large bed and expensive fittings. Sitting in the middle of it all was the predictably octopus-shaped, shining blue gem, the Octopus Turquoise.

The lady addressed the man. "White Hawk, I'm paying you a considerable sum. Do your job well."

"Understood, madam. I may be your bodyguard at the moment, but I am a professional bounty hunter. There are people out there who will pay a hefty reward if I capture Phantom Thief Spade." The man called White Hawk looked at the lady and smirked. Hawk was a notorious bounty hunter. He was a well-built man, with upright silver hair and a military-esque uniform. He wore a patch over his right eye, and a big scar ran over his left cheek. These were proof that he was a seasoned warrior. Most of all, the powerful teeth clenching the thick cigar alluded to Hawk's fortitude.

"I'm the strongest bounty hunter out there! Ain't that right!"

The tall flunky standing beside Hawk answered with vigor. "Yes! White Hawk-sama is the strongest!"

"I sure am! Hah hah hah!" Hawk guffawed.

"Oho, it's an honor to fight someone who boasts to be the strongest."

"!?"

The voice came from the doorway. Who knows when he had gotten there, but Spade was standing at the entrance to the room.

"You! How did you get there!?"

"How? I just waltzed right in from outside."

"You couldn't have... My men were out there..."

"Those were your men? I was trying to not get my hair tangled while fighting and still swatted them down one after another. I would have hoped you could assemble some more formidable footsoldiers," Spade said, glancing at the flunky standing next to Hawk. The tall, unreliable-looking flunky let out an "e-eek!"

Hawk clicked his tongue and glared at Spade. "Tch... well, fine. I'll just capture you myself, right here. You're wanted alive. Count yourself lucky!" he bellowed, before running toward Spade. The tip of his smoldering cigar still poking out of his fist, he threw a punch at Spade. Spade nimbly dodged the blow and leapt back. Taking his small gun out of its holster, he aimed it at Hawk.

"Ice Shot!" Blue-white beams fired from Spade's gun, hitting Hawk's cigar. The cigar's flame was immediately extinguished, and its tip was frozen solid.

"W-What!?"

"Fire's weak to water. To ice, even more so. Everybody knows that."

"Ghh, then how about this!" Hawk said, taking out multiple cigars from his pocket and scattering them over the floor. The cigar tips crackled and sparked. They were bombs!

But Spade wasn't bothered and let loose a fusillade at each and every cigar with his Ice Shot. In moments, all of the bombs were silenced.

"Bah..."

"Your moves won't work on me. There's no better matchup than fire and ice." Spade chuckled. "Well, enough playing around. I'm going after my target now."

"What?"

Spade took a look at his wristwatch and counted down. "3, 2, 1... lights off!"

"WHAT!?"

Right on cue, the lights in the room crackled off. In a moment the whole place had gone completely dark. There was no light coming in from the window, either. After all, outside was the nighttime sea, devoid of even a single light.

"Perfect timing, Dark Eye," murmured Spade. Dark Eye had snuck into the hotel's electrical room and shut off power to all rooms, just as scheduled.

All right, time to take the treasure... Spade relied on his memory to navigate through the darkness, just before he saw a small ember. "...!?" Spade quickly moved himself out of the way, narrowly avoiding the ember.

"Tch!" He heard Hawk click his tongue nearby. Spade swiftly crouched down and stepped away. He heard Hawk's voice come from the darkness. "Phantom Thief Spade... did you think that cigars were the only thing up this bounty hunter's sleeve? My hearing's sharp enough that I can find wherever you are, even in this darkness. So much as twitch and you're done for!"

"......"

He's got me... Spade kept down and silenced his breathing. If he made the slightest sound, Hawk would find him. Still, not moving at all would get him nowhere. Spade slowly reached for his holster.

He'll get to me in a matter of seconds. Can I fire off my Ice Shot before that...? Spade recalled the room's layout with perfect detail. Okay...! He reached for his holster, rapidly now, and grabbed his Ice Shot. There was a slight rattle.

"There you are!" he heard Hawk say in the dark. His fist, with a cigar stuck between its fingers, was flying right toward Spade. Spade fired his Ice Shot, but it went off in the completely wrong direction.

"Ha ha ha! Where do you think you're aiming!?" In the darkness, Hawk's cigar-stuffed fist swung. Its embers were just about to singe Spade's cheek — but before it could connect, Spade vanished and Hawk's punch jabbed through air. "W-What the heck!?"

Hawk immediately pricked up his ears. But he couldn't hear Spade's footsteps. Instead he heard something sliding around the room.

"What's that sound?"

Spade had to be the one making it, but it was too fast. It was like he was circling around the whole room...

Just then, the room's lights crackled back on. Hit by the sudden flood of brightness, Hawk squinted. Within the rays, he saw Spade at the entrance to the room, holding the Octopus Turquoise and smiling.

"Heh heh, as promised, I've taken the treasure."

"M-My Octopus Turquoise!" Behind Hawk, the lady shrieked.

"You fop, how did you...!?" Hawk started, before seeing something glimmer in his peripheral vision. "W-What is this!?"

Hawk looked around and saw a meter-wide line of ice on the walls around the perimeter of the circular room. The line of ice stretched from the doorway where Spade was all the way to the back where the lady was at, making a complete loop.

"It's a line of ice I made with my Ice Shot. I suppose the easiest way to explain is that it's a makeshift skating rink."

"A what?"

Spade lifted up his leg. Now that he could see better, there was a blade like the kind used on ice skates on the bottom of his shoe. "I skated atop the line with these shoes while I was still making it with my Ice Shot. With enough speed, centrifugal force allowed me to skate on the walls to some degree. And of course, I picked up the treasure while I was at it!"

"Ghh...!" Hawk grimaced, biting down on his cigar.

"I'll be taking the treasure, then. Adios!" Spade turned around and jumped out the window in the room. He quickly blew a bubble of Balloon Gum and floated up toward the darkness of night. Behind him, he heard Hawk's voice, yelling "Wait!" at him.

As he steadily ascended toward the Twin Thunder Shark where Dark Eye was waiting, Spade was feeling refreshed, as if a load had been lifted off his chest. The phantom thief business truly is great... It was like all that doubt and second-guessing earlier had never even happened.

That was when...

For a split second, Spade let down his guard. He heard a pop, and a moment later realized that his Balloon Gum had burst. "!?" He looked and saw Hawk on the hotel roof, brandishing a gun. Hawk fixed his sights, taking aim for Spade. Spade's body had started to fall. He was a sitting duck.

Oh shoot...! Spade hurriedly tried to inflate another Balloon Gum, but he got off-balance and the gum fell out of his pocket. "Aaah!"

Looking again, Hawk was aiming directly at Spade. His finger was on the trigger. "You're not getting away, Phantom Thief Spade!"

"Ghh...!" Spade thought it was all over, but just then...

Everything went black, and he felt his body being gently held up.

"Are you all right?" It was a man's voice; one he had never heard before. Whoever it belonged to, he was somehow floating in the air.

"Haah!" The man held up a knife and threw it with force. Hawk's resulting scream echoing from the rooftop was just barely audible. "You're okay now."

Reassured by the voice, Spade's body warmed. When Spade was shocked by something, he became feverish. Then a wiry arm drugged Spade with something. Spade's consciousness slowly floated away.

Spade awoke to a chilly breeze on his cheek.

"Mmm..."

He glanced around and saw that he was in a dark, cold room, with a faint shaft of moonlight beaming in from the window. It seemed to be some kind of decrepit house, but with so little light, he couldn't see the whole room. Spade himself was lying down on a small platform.

"...Spade-kun, how do you do. This is my hideout. So as to keep the location secret, I put you to sleep for a little while," came a voice from the darkness. It was a low, monotone voice... the same one that had saved Spade.

"You're...?"

"My name is Noir. I sent you a letter."

"I see..." So I was saved by Noir. Spade slowly sat up. "Thank you for what you did. I was careless..."

"Hm..." Noir didn't respond. Spade went ahead and asked the question on his mind.

"Why did you send me that letter? What do you want my assistance for?"

"Oh yes... that was a mistake."

"A mistake?"

"I intended to steal a treasure from Joker and, with your help, defeat Silver Heart. However, it appears I overestimated you."

"What? Defeat my master...?" Hearing all this, Spade wasn't even sure where to start.

"You and I have similar circumstances. Thus I believed that you would be willing to help me defeat Silver Heart. Seeing as you are Joker's rival, I thought sure that you would be motivated if I showed you this treasure I stole from Joker."

"You took a treasure from Joker!?" Spade exclaimed. In the dark, a red gemstone caught the light of the moon and gleamed. It was the Crimson Crystal which Joker had stolen from Kaneari. "That's..."

"I won it from Joker in a minute-long match. For me, something such as this is child's play. However, Silver Heart will not be as simple."

"Aha. You have confidence in your skills. You're planning to challenge my master to a match?"

"That's correct. I will never forgive him."

"I don't know what happened between you and Master. But do you really think I would assist with that?" Spade said with a faint smile. Even if he had beaten Joker, he certainly wouldn't help him fight against his master.

"That makes sense... Regardless, I no longer have any need for you."

"Huh...?"

"That theft you just did. You stayed calm and collected through most of it, but at the very end, you let down your guard. That could have been a fatal mistake."

"That was because..." I can't say it was because the letter he sent was bothering me. That's just an excuse.

"My apologies, but I rescind what I said in the letter. I do not need your assistance. I would be better off with Joker, who chose to fight against me."

"Say what..." Spade's eyes flashed with anger as he glared into the dark. "Show yourself! I'll prove to you here and now that I'm not inferior to Joker!"

"Heh heh, I am not in the habit of showing myself to those I deem unworthy..."

"Ghh... Unworthy, you say..."

But Spade knew that he couldn't fight here anyway. His body was still warm, and just getting up made his head feel dizzy.

"Farewell then, Phantom Thief Spade. Return this to Joker for me, if you would," Noir told him, placing the Crimson Crystal on a side table. "It's unlikely that we will meet again. Go ahead and chase behind Joker forever..." he said before apparently walking out. Then in a voice too low for Spade to hear, he spoke to himself. "I'm not like you..." Noir's footsteps faded away into the darkness.

"Wait! Take that back!"

But Noir didn't respond to Spade's shout. Soon enough, he could no longer hear the footsteps.

"Ghh..." Spade balled up a fist and slammed it onto the table. It made a heavy thud, and pain coursed through Spade's hand. He gnashed his teeth, the frustration heating up his body even more. "Phantom Thief... Noir......!" he wrung out.

Then with a great clamor, Dark Eye came in to his rescue exclaiming "Spade-sama!", but their voice didn't reach Spade's ears.